The True Cost of Fashion amidst Covid 19
Over 4.1 million Bangladeshi Garment Workers, mostly women have not been paid amidst this global pandemic. This garment industry accounts for more than 80% of Bangladesh’s $40 billion annual exports.
These garment factories have shut down without paying workers since March 2020. The factory owners blame this on major global brands that have abruptly cancelled or paused completed and in-process orders worth 3 billion dollars due to the Covid 19 pandemic. In the majority of cases, the brands refused to pay for sewing or fabric, and most factories had to close down and let go of workers without pay. Among the factories experiencing cancellations, 91.3% of buyers refused to pay for sewing, and about 75% refused to pay for fabric.
Amidst the pandemic, with clothing stores shutting down and demand declining drastically, these brands and retailers chose to push their financial fallout onto garment workers and factories. This has resulted in labourers not being paid for for the work that they have already completed. Major brands that you know and love have not paid Bangladeshi garment workers, leading them to the brink of starvation. 63% of workers are pushed into extreme poverty and are at the risk of being homeless.
The #PayUp campaign demands for orders to be paid in full and on time, including fabric that factories have already paid for, rather than abandon their supply chain partners and the women who have kept their business profitable for many years. This money is owed to the small businesses and factory owners who have already invested in their cancelled orders.
Some of the brands that have not paid their dues are Walmart, Primark, Gap, Forever. 21, etc. Since the #PayUp campaign, some brands such as Adidas, H&M, Ralph Lauren, UNIQLO, etc have agreed to pay up in a timely manner.
The cute top you’re wearing right now, was probably made by a Bangladeshi worker, currently living in an unsafe environment during this pandemic. It is important to have empathy and be a conscious consumer of fashion. It is important to recognise the contribution that each purchase you make has towards building these brands.
Fashion is an integral part of an individual’s personality. Your fashion choices offer a peek into who you truly are. Your clothes reveal a lot about you beyond choices in colour, size and style. Whether it is wearing cruelty free sustainable fashion or choosing brands with good ethics, this truly is the time to ‘make a statement’ with your fashion choices. Support and build the community fighting for the rights of Bangladeshi workers and stop consuming products from brands that are yet to #PayUp.
