 Do you support the concept of ethical consumption? Have you ever expressed willingness to buy products that have been made ethically? If the answer is no, there are chances you are extending your support to the abuse of thousands of sweatshop workers all over the world. Several 21st century global retailers are trying to bring back inhumane working conditions that existed in factories during late 1700s. Similar conditions are prevailing in sweatshops today. Not only small children are being forced to work at low wages in these shops but the farmers are also being forced to sell their produce (raw materials) at unsustainable rates to the retailers. There are many well known brands that have been making profit while abusing and exploiting the workers in their supply chains.
Thanks to the popularity and worldwide acceptance of ethical consumerism, new companies and brands have come up that support eco-friendly practices for producing goods. Heidi & Seek is one such clothing line that has been providing sweatshop free, eco-friendly clothes to women in Melbourne, Australia. Reclaimed materials are used for designing and sewing the garments in order to extend support to the concept of reuse and recycle. At a time when several brands in the fashion industry are exploiting workers and making them bear the cost of low priced clothes being offered to the consumers, companies like Heidi & Seek come as a relief to thousands of conscious consumers across the globe.
The present culture of throwing away clothes after using it for sometime is contributing to carbon emission, massive expenditure of resources and exploitation of workers in sweatshops all over the world. The present condition demands a sustained movement within which direct communication can be established between the producers and consumers. Farmers providing raw materials to the retailers have just become underpaid employees of the global agribusiness but thanks to various labor rights forums efforts are being made to support rights of workers as well farmers related to this industry.
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