06 Jan
No "Optional" Add On
FAIR WAGES, SAFETY AND RESPECT FOR GARMENT WORKERS CANNOT BE AN OPTIONAL ADD ON.
The fast fashion industry is predominantly built on a system of speed and output, often at the sacrifice of quality and garment worker safety and rights. No matter where you look around the world whether its Bangladesh, UK or LA, manufacturing production hubs for fast fashion giants are almost all intentionally built upon a vulnerable and undocumented workforce (this includes factors like immigration status, class and gender). The reason many of these manufacturing hubs or contracted factories are selected overseas is due to the labour laws being weak and law enforcements being even weaker. Brands then notoriously build an intentional complex model that clouds the authority within their supply chain in order to free them from liability. We need to collectively wake up to this reality and hold brands accountable for their actions.
This has been recently brought to the surface through the @boohoo allegations of operating their UK factories during lockdown in unsafe conditions and paying an illegal £3.50 per hour. Unfortunately, this kind of behaviour happens all over the world. Other forms of oppressive and illegal practices happens throughout the industry, we only need to place back few months when the PayUp campaign by @remakeourworld was launched after a collection of brands decided not to pay for ordered that were made, leaving millions of garment workers out of a job, and not being paid for work they were contracted to do. (Since the launch of the pay up campaign 243k signatures and 19 brands have now agreed to pay for back orders).
What can you do?
1. Do research, educate yourself, start conversations with friends.
2. Hold brands accountable by asking how they hold themselves accountable for the care, protection and fair treatment of their garment workers. Email, dm, publicly ask them online, tweet them, however you feel comfortable but water happens, use your voice!
3. Follow educators like — @labourbehindthelabel @remakeourworld @cleanclothescampaign
Thank you to Alexa Terfloth for creating this artwork as a vehicle for us to spread our words through art.♥️
The fast fashion industry is predominantly built on a system of speed and output, often at the sacrifice of quality and garment worker safety and rights. No matter where you look around the world whether its Bangladesh, UK or LA, manufacturing production hubs for fast fashion giants are almost all intentionally built upon a vulnerable and undocumented workforce (this includes factors like immigration status, class and gender). The reason many of these manufacturing hubs or contracted factories are selected overseas is due to the labour laws being weak and law enforcements being even weaker. Brands then notoriously build an intentional complex model that clouds the authority within their supply chain in order to free them from liability. We need to collectively wake up to this reality and hold brands accountable for their actions.
This has been recently brought to the surface through the @boohoo allegations of operating their UK factories during lockdown in unsafe conditions and paying an illegal £3.50 per hour. Unfortunately, this kind of behaviour happens all over the world. Other forms of oppressive and illegal practices happens throughout the industry, we only need to place back few months when the PayUp campaign by @remakeourworld was launched after a collection of brands decided not to pay for ordered that were made, leaving millions of garment workers out of a job, and not being paid for work they were contracted to do. (Since the launch of the pay up campaign 243k signatures and 19 brands have now agreed to pay for back orders).
What can you do?
1. Do research, educate yourself, start conversations with friends.
2. Hold brands accountable by asking how they hold themselves accountable for the care, protection and fair treatment of their garment workers. Email, dm, publicly ask them online, tweet them, however you feel comfortable but water happens, use your voice!
3. Follow educators like — @labourbehindthelabel @remakeourworld @cleanclothescampaign
Thank you to Alexa Terfloth for creating this artwork as a vehicle for us to spread our words through art.♥️
more stories
Climate Grief 101: What Is It And What To Do Next
Do melting ice caps, deforestation and plastic pollution keep you up at night? You might be experiencing climate grief. Also referred to as ecolog...
The New Seasonal Baker On The Block: Meet Chez Ella
There's a new seasonal baker on the block, and we want to know all about it! This weekend we sat down with Ella Harding, Founder of Chez Ella Lond...
Meet The World's First Sex Toy Made From Ocean Plastic
Meet ohhcean® The first sex toy range in the world made with ocean-bound plastic. The ohhcean collection features silky silicone covered sex toys ...
Redefining Shareholder Activism: With Tulipshare
This week we enter the world of investing. What is shareholder activism and why is it an important part of individual action when it comes to comba...
How To Bring Mother Nature Into Our Daily Lives
Your relationship with Mother Nature will last your whole life, so it’s worth spending some quality time together.
Have you stepped outside and fe...
Meet The Seasonal Florists Putting The Planet First This Valentine's Day
Did you know that 90% of all purchased flowers in the Uk are imported from overseas?! And 250 million roses are grown each year for valentines day?...
How To Do A January Clear Out, Sustainably
Brits are expected to throw out 67 million items of clothing THIS MONTH, along with furniture, tech and more. So, how can be have January clear out...
Ways to be more environmentally friendly in the kitchen
Six tips for being an eco-warrior in the kitchen!With the effects of the climate crisis already being felt across the world, more of us than ever a...
Simple Ways To Love Your Clothes Longer in 2022
A List of Simple Ways to Love Your Clothes Longer in 2022❤️1. Vote with your purchases
Where you choose to spend your money really does have an im...
In Pictures: Kings Road Holiday Concept Store
WELCOME TO THE 114 KINGS ROAD HOLIDAY CONCEPT STORE
Welcome to our first ever concept store, in partnership with HURR. During November - December...
Ways To Recycle Your Tree This Festive Season
Did you know that 8 million trees are thrown out in the UK each year— all of this waste amounts to around 120,000 tonnes, which predominantly end u...
A London Guide To Thrifting
A London Guide To Vintage • From one of a kind pieces to vintage furniture, its true that buying second hand is not only fun but it reduces the o...
A London Guide To: Wellness
We believe that selfceare and wellness are a crucial part of living a more conscious and sustainable life— so we put together our top spots in Lo...
Community Litter Picking Event
Join us on 10th November at 1pm, for a lunch time of litter picking, and connecting with a community of humans who want to make change. We will me...
A London Guide To: Farmers Markets
A London Guide To: Farmers Markets • We all know that adopting a more planet based diet is one of the most effective ways we can lower our impact o...
Film Premier: Fashionscapes: A Circular Economy
Link here to watch the full film.
Monday mornings started right! This morning the Stories Behind Things team had the pleasure of attending the pr...
A London Guide To: Eating Plant Based
A London Guide to Eating Plant Based • Animal farming accounts for twice as many greenhouse gas emissions as plants grown for consumption, accordi...
Bringing nature indoors
Bringing nature indoors Our world’s population is becoming increasingly urban. According to the United Nations, in 2016 an estimated 54.5% of peop...
In Pictures: The Shop by Stories Behind Things
Welcome to our first ever in store experience! We hosted The Shop, this August, a pop up curated by yours truly - to bring together brands who prio...
The Future Of Community: Getting To Know The WIP
We wanted to take a moment to introduce The WIP to you! We are excited to share they are sponsoring The Shop, our first ever in person store experi...
Tips For Climate Anxiety
What do you do when climate news gets too much? We spoke to our Founder Jemma to hear some ways she re balances in times like this. We’ve been rec...
5 Books On Waste
New upload to the #SBTbookClub Five books exploring the concept of waste 🚯🗑
Waste Not by James Beard Foundation
The James Beard Foundation s co...
The Future of Travel: In Conversation with Brompton Bike Hire
What are the current problems in the bicycle industry when it comes to sustainability?
The bicycle industry face many of the same challenges as a...
New Report Shows Shifting Mindsets In London
A new report has been published exploring the mindsets of Londoners when it comes to our climate crisis.
Climate change is the large-scale, lo...
How AI Can Help Tackle The Climate Crisis
Climate change is the biggest challenge facing the planet. It will need every solution possible, including technology like artificial intell...
Is Lab Grown The Future?
From meat to diamonds, lab grown is starting to take centre stage as a more planet friendly option to growing materials. The diamond industry is kn...
Top zero waste restaurants in London
The hospitality industry is renowned for its waste, especially when it comes to food waste, packaging and plastics. We wanted to shine a light on t...
Top Zero Waste Stores In London
Now that the UK is opening back up again, we wanted to share our favourite zero waste stores that you can visit. From package free pasta to re...
5 Questions With Sheep Inc.
We sat down with Michael Wessely, the co founder of Sheep Inc. to learn more about the brand's mission and journey within sustainability. Sheep Inc...
The story behind the greenest dress at the OSCARS
In support of the Red Carpet Green Dress initiative, Marlee Matlin wore a Vivienne Westwood custom-made gown made from sustainable fabric Tencel. R...
Why Is Sustainable Always More Expensive?
Why are sustainable products always more expensive? The truth is, we’ve gotten used to products being increasingly cheap and accessible. This has ...
Climate Art, A Tool For Change?
For centuries, nature has been the protagonist of art, with the natural landscapes inspiring the likes of Monet, Van Gough, Turner and Hockney. ...
5 Books On Fashion And Our Planet
What are your go to books to learn more about fashion and how it intersects with sustainability, the climate crisis and our planet? Here are five ...
Renewable Futures
Energy is by far the main contributor to climate change. It accounts for 73 percent of human-caused greenhouse gases. We are seeing a positive incr...
Climate Change And Colonialism
The past year has opened our eyes to some extraordinary revelations and home truths about the world we live in. Cracks in the system have been ex...
Building A Greener Future: CG
Co Founder and CEO of Stories Behind Things spoke to Gavin Thompson, VP Corporate Citizenship at Canada Goose. When Stories Behind Things partners with global brands who are looking to build a greener future, it’s important for us to take stock of that business’ direction, transparency and accountability.
Unraveling Our Fragile Future
2020, the year of symmetry, prospects and plans has taken a very sombre turn. From lockdowns to social distancing and self-isolation - the world as...
Sign up to our newsletter
Use left/right arrows to navigate the slideshow or swipe left/right if using a mobile device