8.3.2022

SUSTAINABILITY

Women’s Day mission: Empower those who made your garments!

Oh yes, we love roses, big chocolate boxes, and cute dresses with heart patterns too. But why not enjoy those every day? Why only today? Today we have something more important to focus on. This Women’s Day is dedicated to all the female garment workers behind the scenes, who make our beautiful clothes. Those women need the spotlight.

Fashion is a women’s issue

Did you know that one in six individuals who are employed work in the fashion industry? What makes this situation inequal, as much as 80 percent of garment workers are female. The industry is big and full of women. On the consumer side, millennial women spend 153 percent more on clothing and apparel per year than millennial men do. That might sound harsh, but we have to remember that at the same time that means that women also have the power to affect these things. And on the other hand, 5 years ago that number was 226 percent.

The hazardous working conditions of female workers

The exploitation of women workers has allowed European fashion companies to make huge profits while denying the workers who produce their clothes the most basic rights. In the wake of hefty structural violations, the Rana Plaza garment factory collapsed killing over 1,132 women and injuring at least 2,500. Unsurprisingly those who were injured were not properly compensated. Despite the fact that women are closest to the work and do most of the hard labor, access to positions of power and opportunities to have their voices heard is not the norm.

Take care of your garments

If you care about fashion, you care about women’s rights. By respecting and taking care of your clothes you are ALSO respecting their work! Take a stance against overconsumption on IWD by buying second-hand instead. Empower your garments by wearing them as long as possible and make sure they stay in the loop and not end up at a landfill. Here are our best tips on how to take care of our clothes:

  • “The best tip I’ve ever received to make my clothes last longer is to wash them inside out. I do this, especially with my jeans and activewear. Garments that I want to be extra careful with I put in a washing bag, it protects my clothes and the environment from microplastic pollution at the same time – genius!“ – Sofie, Junior Communications Manager (Denmark)

  • “It sounds super simple but I try to avoid washing my clothes too often. People think that garment production has the biggest impact on the environment when talking about the fashion industry. But in fact, washing clothes has the greatest impact upon society when it comes to the impact of one garment on the environment. Washing makes up to 82% of energy use during a garment ́s life cycle!“ – Julia, Junior Communications Manager (Germany)

  • “Is it freezing? Good, because of cold weather freshes up clothes without wearing them off. Especially materials like denim or wool don’t need and shouldn’t be washed often. Just scrub of occasional stain and throw the garment out for a night!“ – Lotta, Junior Communications Manager (Finland)

  • “Especially my delicate wool sweaters need to be treated carefully. For refreshment, I often steam instead of wash. That kills bacteria and reduces odors. And most importantly, all my wool sweaters are folded and never hung. Like this, they stay in shape and don’t get stretched out.“ – Franziska, International Partnership Lead

  • “I’m a mom and that’s the main reason I just love gall soap. It’s highly effective against any stains. Even stubborn stains such as blood, ink, blueberries, and grass are easily dissolved. The best thing is that this magic soap is also gentle. Families with small and large children, health-conscious people, and, above all, fragrance allergy sufferers benefit from this. Even the royal family in Sweden counts on this soap bar!“ – Iina, International Communications Lead

    • Want to know more?

    If you feel like you desire more information about this topic after reading our blog post, you can head to Fashion Revolution’s blog. From the sustainability angle, you might want to get to know the sustainability category of Vogue Business. The UN Alliance for Sustainable Fashion is also something that’s good to mention when talking about this topic. There is hope, the hope is in our hands. Let’s celebrate this Women’s Day using our power!

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