We looked this evening at how to buy clothes that don't harm people or the environment.
We thought about the low cost of clothes in many high street shops and supermarkets, how they manage to sell them so cheaply. Using information from the report by War on Want we thought about the low wages, long hours and poor conditions forced on these workers.
We also considered the problem of growing cotton intensively, which uses vast amouts of water and pesticide.
Our clothes buying recommendations were...
1. Don't buy new clothes if you really don't need them - try and resist fashion telling you you need the latest whatever.
2. Use a charity shop / eBay and recycle.
3. Use an ethical retailer (eg howies, American Apparel, People Tree, Hug, Ascension, Epona, Gossypium, Kuyichi). They will probably be more expensive, and you probably have to mail order, but the clothes will not be made in sweatshops and may use organic cotton, and be made to last. Maybe buy clothes less often, but better quality.
4. If you have to use normal clothes shops, look at the Clean Up Fashion website, which rates individual stores on their ethical record.
War on Want are asking people to write to three of the stores they think are the worst culprits and express your views. This is our High Altitude Challenge this week.
To contact Asda,write to Angela Spindler, Global Managing Director,George at Asda, Asda House,Southbank,Great Wilson Street, Leeds LS11 5AD,or phone 0113 243 5435.
To contact Tesco,write to Sir Terry Leahy, Chief Executive,New Tesco House,Delamare Road,Cheshunt,Hertfordshire EN8 9SL,or phone 01992 632 222.
To contact Primark,write to Arthur Ryan, Chairman and Managing Director,Primark Stores Limited,Primark House,41 West Street,Reading,Berkshire RG1 1TT,or phone 0118 960 6300.
Hi everyone,
That footy game on Sunday was competitive! I've seen Premiership games less competitive than that!
Very interesting Runway on Sunday, but a bit sad that people can keep others working in a factory for just 3p/hour, i have thought about buying ethical clothing from 1 of those websites.
:D
;)
:@
(_8(I) (Homer Simpson)
@@@@:-) (Marge Simpson)
?:^[] (Jim Carrey)
Hi kids!
I've just written my letters to the clothes shops and thought you might find it helpful to see what I put. I thought it might help you when you're writing your own (you can even just copy it if you find that easier)
Do try to write to at least one of the shops. You'd be suprised how much influence a simple letter from one of their shoppers has.
Jesus really cares about all his people, and as his followers we should care about them too. Go on - it'll take ten minutes max.
Here's the letter:
Dear (name)
I am writing to ask you to provide fairer conditions for the foreign workers who make your clothes.
I am concerned at the very low prices of some of your garments. I would argue that clothes cannot be made this cheaply without someone paying the cost.
I ask you to raise your prices back to sensible amounts, so that you can pay your workers a fair wage that they can live on.
I would also ask that your company make regular, honest checks on the conditions your workers work in.
I also feel that workers should have a union that they can join to give them a voice.
I think that people in this country buy your clothes because they don't know about the bad conditions that your clothes are made in. I think people do care about others and would be willing to pay more for fair trade clothes.
It seems very unfair to me, as your workers have no choice but to accept the low pay and bad conditions.
Thank you very much for taking the time to read this letter.