Ethical Fashion: For Now and Forever

We live in a throwaway society where a dizzying array of products is available to replace what is worn out, broken, or unfashionable. Advertisers, businesses and even the government are constantly encouraging us to buy, buy, buy.

Yet every item we purchase requires both natural and human resources to manufacture, package and transport. The environment is mined for base materials, greenhouse gases are produced, and sometimes workers are exploited during the production process. No one wants to contribute to the harm of other people or the environment, but unfortunately this is often the case. But there is an alternative–ethical consumption.

I have made it my life’s mission to become a more ethical consumer and help other people make better choices through my clothing and footwear business, Etiko. I understand that it can sometimes be difficult purchasing ethically or even consuming less. But if we each do a little in our own lives we can contribute to a better planet for everyone. We now have unparalleled access to information about corporate behaviour and more ethical products available, so we can literally vote with our dollar.

What is ethical consumption? Concerns include consideration of human rights, animal rights and the environment. Millions of people, primarily women and children, are still being exploited as slave labour or well below minimum wage in developing countries. Many workers in Pakistan, India and China suffer terrible conditions producing clothing and shoes for brands that you probably have in your wardrobe.

Ethical products include those that are Fairtrade, certified organic, produced by worker co-operatives, made from recycled material, and carbon neutral. Of course, we need to be wary of unwarranted claims by checking the fine print and asking questions to determine if a product is truly produced ethically or if it’s just greenwash.

Before I buy something, I ask myself: Do I really need it? Am I still going to be using it in five to ten years? Has it been produced in an ethical manner? Only if the answer to these questions is yes do I make the purchase.

Boycotting a corporation that engages in dubious practises is one of the most powerful decisions we can make. Another, more positive approach, is to support the growing number of ethically focussed brands that have been launched recently.

I started Etiko to do good, not to make people buy things they don’t need. I find it appalling that someone could spend $1000 on a handbag when so many people around the world are struggling to feed their family. I sell ethical alternatives to products including business shirts, t-shirts, sneakers and sports balls. They look funky, are priced competitively, but also have a deeper meaning. They are produced fairly by workers paid living wages and working in decent conditions. My producers include worker co-operatives in Argentina, a farmer co-operative in India and an accredited Fairtrade manufacturer of sports in Pakistan as well as a certified non-sweatshop clothing manufacturer in Australia .

I named my business Etiko because in Greek the word ‘ethiko’ means ethical. I keep my carbon footprint low, look after our producers, give back to the communities we work with, use organic raw materials wherever possible, and sell products designed to look good for years to come.

Being an ethical consumer is not about satisfying immediate wants; it’s about considering the wider implications of our purchase. By consuming less and choosing products that are not harming people or the environment, we can make a big difference with our dollar.

Nick Savaidis

For more information about Fairtrade and Worker co-operatives and to see our range of ethical fashion and sports products, go to www.etiko.com.au.