The value of purchasing clothing has greatly changed in the past 15 years and the documentary, The True Cost, shows the real effects of the way we shop, calling it “fast fashion.”
The documentary, directed by Andrew Morgan, shares the outcome that the apparel industry’s growth has had on third world countries; the output of apparel has increased by 400 percent in the last 15 to 20 years.
The mass production is causing concern for factory workers in China, Cambodia and India; it also has been effecting Texas cotton farms. At these cotton farms, many workers have been diagnosed with cancer, which links to the chemicals used by them in the crop treatment.
The film focuses on the treatment of those who make the garments that we buy, and shares shocking statistics that may have you thinking twice before purchasing.
In a Bangladesh factory featured in the documentary, workers are making $1 per day, which is not even close to enough to feed themselves and their families. This also causes them to lose quality time with their loved ones because they have to work as long as they physically can in order to make as much money as possible to support their families.
The film shares a story of a 23 year old woman who attempted to unionize and secure better wages for the staff at her factory in Bangladesh. In the end, she, along with anyone else who followed her, was beaten up by the owner.
In India, their waters are being polluted from the clothing that is made; the pollutants from the clothes transfer into the same river that they use to get their drinking water. Many are getting sick, especially pregnant women, causing their children to be born with mental illnesses.
This not only applies to designer clothing, of course, but discounted stores as well. The more you buy of any item gives factories more of a reason to stay open. Instead of buying one dress and cherishing it, it is now the norm to buy 5 dresses, and come back the next week for 5 more.
Yahoo Style contacted the executive producer of The True Cost and founder of The Green Carpet Challenge, Livia Firth, who shared a tip that can help solve the problem. She said that, if you are not planning on wearing a clothing item numerous times, until worn out, then do not buy it.
Her project, The Green Carpet Challenge, helps fashion labels find sustainable ways to produce their clothing.
“The True Cost movie shows the state we have arrived at today, thanks to this relatively new phenomenon called fast fashion, which started 15-20 years ago and is now responsible for ‘disposable fashion.’ We buy it fast and we discard it as fast and without thinking, move on to the next piece of clothing. Don’t you think that is an oxymoron? And don’t you think that it is killing all fashion, too, and the love we have for it?” says Firth.
