It Takes Exploitation to Look This Good: Garment Workers, Modern Fashion, and the Oppression of Women
The fashion industry is one of the most labor-intensive endeavors in the world. The garment workers who make the trillion-dollar fashion industry possible are also some of the most vulnerable workers in the U.S and across the globe. Garment workers are a vital part of apparel and footwear production, yet they are consistently exploited for the benefit of companies and ultimately, consumers. Women make up 80 to 85% of garment workers and are especially vulnerable due to the increased poverty and violence women face, compounding the harms of working in the fashion industry. Exploitation comes in the form of low wages, unsafe factory conditions, and sexual harassment. Only two percent of garment workers in the world are paid wages that cover their basic needs and up to 50% of women in the garment industry have experienced sexual harassment. Hundreds of women have lost their lives in garment factories when unsafe buildings collapsed or caught fire.
The exploitation of garment workers is best understood through an analysis of the past, present, and future. History has shown that progress towards stronger rights for garment workers was slow and difficult and has left modern day garment workers without legal protection both in the U.S. and abroad. Now, with the continued rise of fast fashion pushing almost all western companies to use suppliers in other countries, the exploitation of garment workers has increased. The exploitation just occurs further away from western consumers. Although easily dismissed as the problems of other countries, it is essential that western brands take responsibility for the actions of all parts of their supply chain moving forward. Without improved legal protections for garment workers, increased consumer awareness, and pressure to increase transparency, the fashion industry will continue to harm women for the benefit of consumers and brand owners.