Budget Fashion: Can You Afford to Shop Ethically?

I have been reading a lot lately, as I am sure you all have too, about ethical fashion. In fact if I had a pound for every time I heard the term 'fast fashion' I would be on my way to Hermes. The 'in vogue' topic at the moment is that all the fast fashion high street stores such as Primark and New Look in the UK and Forever 21 in the US are abusing their workers who make the clothes. They cannot be so cheap if they are paying the workers a fair wage, can they? Yet because these abused workers are thousands of miles away, not even in the same country as many of us, it is very easy for the 'out of sight, out of mind' mentality to take over. Especially when we see a great fashion piece at a bargain price. Not to mention the designers who are having their ideas stolen and cheaply reproduced by the stores.

Primark shoppers, Guardian via Newscast

So, to combat this problem it is easy right? We stop buying four bags full of Primark clothes, that we probably don't really need, and maybe won't even wear - but it was really cheap so who cares. Instead we boycott these stores and only shop places more upmarket, if the product costs more then they must have paid the factory workers more, right? Well actually how do we know? Not one high st company has made any of their figures available. The same dress sold in Primark and Topshop could very well have been made in the same factory, but the store simply makes more profit. I have seen identical and I mean the EXACT same garment in Primark that I have in Debenhams, and I know I am not the only one to witness this strange phenomena.

F21 Japan launch, tokyofashion.com

So, how about we don't shop on the High St at all, we save all our money for special pieces we know came from ethical sources. We buy handmade clothes from exclusive boutiques... But wait, you need a dress for your friends wedding in two weeks time and you only have £30, you have a job interview and need a suit this week but it would take you months to save up for one that cost £££s.

Here are some of the comments people left under a post by Jezebel shaming F21:

Also, I hope everyone who's shaming people for shopping at Forever 21 in this comment thread realizes how ridiculously elitist they are being. Not everyone can afford to buy handmade, one-of-a-kind, artisanal clothes made with love by local designers. Don't blame the people for being trapped in a corrupt system. "Buying nothing" is not always a viable option for people who do not have the time and/or skills to make their own clothes, but who need to look presentable in order to obtain/keep a job and make ends meet.

It's great that you've "sworn off fast fashion" and that now you only buy "quality pieces," but I just got a job last week and I have 50 dollars to buy a work wardrobe. I'm gonna go get some shirts at F21, most likely. I don't like that they utilize sweatshops, but the funds simply don't exist for me to go elsewhere.

I wish that Jezebel would suggest some alternatives to the "fast fashion" and its sweatshops and American Apparel and its perversion. There are a lot of articles condemning places with easy, cute, cheap clothing, but most of the alternatives I can think of in my price range are likely just as unethical.

And, no, thrifting and f***ing Etsy aren't what I mean. I'm talking about relatively inexpensive places to shop that are accessible to most people, and that don't require that shopping become a hobby. Maybe a "How to Dress When You're Ethical, Busy, and on a Budget?" I'm guessing a lot of readers might appreciate one.

Sometimes I prefer not to know about the shady details of consumerism because s**t, I need clothes and they are offering a reasonable price for me at that time. Also some areas don't necessarily have those options of boutiques and stores that are "safe". You can't be picky every single time.

The fact is that yes there are some people who fill their already over flowing closets with cheap clothing, who gorge themselves on fast fashion. These people drop hundreds of pounds per month, so yep if they wanted they could swap all this for one beautiful hand made designer dress. Yet not everyone who shops in these stores is greedy for fashion, they simply cannot afford to shop any place else. From school aged teens on a Saturday job budget to the working mothers on a low wage with kids to feed and a stack of bills. Why shouldn't they be allowed to buy a new party dress, just like everyone else because of their personal circumstance?

As one of the commentor's points out, what about those who don't actually enjoy shopping? It is very true that thrifting, charity, vintage, eBay, Etsy shopping is more of a hobby. It takes time to hunt out the gems. What about all the people who have no interest or time for all that, where do they shop without being judged. Clothes swapping and altering old clothes all takes time, skill and luck (I've come away empty handed from many a clothes swap), they aren't practical for getting your everyday basics. Some tips suggest borrowing clothes from friends but they will soon get sick of lending and that is if you are lucky enough to be their size. Many bloggers like to write about making the best of what you already have and give tips on styling up your outfits which is great, but what if you don't even have the basics to start with, they have to come from somewhere.

This is also causing issues for outfit bloggers too... but more on that in a future 'Budget Fashion' installment.

Any thoughts or tips on how you shop ethically, or not?
Pearl

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