This week is #FashionRevolutionWeek. I was supposed to host a workshop today where I would screen the @truecostmovie and write postcards to policy makers about the inhuman working conditions garment workers have to face everyday globally. Instead, please read this thread;

On April 24th, seven years ago today the Dhaka garment factory (also known as Rana Plaza) collapsed. The search for the dead didn’t end until May 13th, 2013 with a death toll of 1,134. Approximately 2,500 injured people were rescued from the building alive;

It was the worst industrial accident in Bangladesh history, and has led to widespread criticism of global retail practices. This was not the first factory to collapse in Bangladesh. In 2005, 64 workers died in the collapse of the Spectrum sweater factory (used by owner of Zara)

This, unfortunately is still a huge problem around the world. Factory workers make far less than a living wage. They are often forced to work 16+ hour days 6-7 days a week just to survive.

Even in 2020, Companies such as Adidas, Nike, Abercrombie & Fitch, Forever 21, Wal-Mart, Old Navy, Tommy Hilfiger, Ralph Lauren, H&M, Converse, Hollister and more use child labor/sweatshops so they make a higher profit.

In the worst forms of sweatshops people are forced to work up to 72 hours straight, without sleep. Those complaining are beaten and abused. Cases of physical, sexual, and verbal abuse are common and well documented. #FashionRevolutionWeek

On top of that, 250 million children between 5 and 14 are forced to work in sweatshops in developing countries. Children as young as 6 have been found working in sweatshops for up to 16 hours per day. The pay? Sometimes less than 20 cents per day or about one cent per hour.

Companies NEED to take responsibility and make a change. What can we do as consumer? Demand change. Write to your favorite brands. Contact your policy makers. Ask, #WhoMadeMyClothes

Stop supporting brands who use slave labor. Look for the #fairtrade labels. Fairtrade ensure higher salaries and better working conditions as well as higher social and environmental standards.

And educate! Not very many people even know this is a problem because it’s kept hushed

For further information, please check out the following materials:
@Fash_Rev
@FAIRTRADE
@truecostmovie
http://fashionrevolution.org 
And my PSA!
Also read the books in the pics below. They’re easy to get through and so informative {end thread} #SuSocialWork