Fair fashion, fair trade
According to the Department of Labor, over half of the garment factories in the U.S. are sweatshops. Through low-wage, union-free “sweatshop” contractors, manufacturers make huge profits by meeting consumer demand for inexpensive, off-the-rack clothing at a lower cost. Some of the worst sweatshop offenders are large retailers who offer disposable fashion at a bargain like H&M, Forever 21, Gap, Nike and Guess.

The true cost of fashion: people and the planet
Unfortunately, people and the planet pay the true cost of fast fashion. Sweatshop laborers are mostly women and children who are overworked, underpaid and subjected to abuse and toxic working conditions. In addition to hurting people, fast fashion devastates the environment. In fact, according to the EPA, the textile industry is one of the biggest generators of greenhouse gases, pollution and wasted natural resources.

In an effort to balance the scales, there is a growing demand for conscious, fair trade fashion. Nancy Jones, executive director of Chicago Fair Trade (chicagofairtrade.org), has created a system of exchange that honors producers, communities, consumers and the environment by:

• Supporting small scale artisans
• Fair, safe labor conditions
• Payment of a living wage
• Direct, accountable trade with producers
• Gender equality and child-free labor
• Community development and reinvestment
• Democratic, transparent co-operative organizations
• Building capacity through education and best practices
• Environmental sustainability
• Respect for cultural diversity and heritage

Jones believes consumers can put a stop to injustice by purchasing fair trade fashion.

“As long as people continue demanding disposable fashion at cheap prices, the garment industry will continue to wreak havoc on people and the planet. By purchasing fair trade, we show that we care more about people than money.”

Through education and outreach, Chicago Fair Trade is helping Chicago ...