The fashion industry is often linked with bad press, but regardless of this, it has taken over more trades in the world than any other and continues to grow and spread its branches across all other segments on which the global economy relies on extensively and there are numerous articles written about this online, showing how the fashion industry contributes to almost $2.5 trillion towards the global economy.
In 2017 the United States alone, customers spend nearly $380 billion on clothing and footwear. It is bigger than any retailer or wholesaler industry and employs more than 1.8 million people, this is just in the United States. You can access a report written about this on this online source.
Even though it contributes to society’s global economy so tremendously and creates many jobs, it also does spoil it. Both technology and manufacturing of apparel have in some parts of the world, a diverse effect on the environment with manufacturing plants opening up in the dozens and various countries, some of which contribute towards environmental damage such as air pollution, landfills, garbage, to name a few.
However even with this cloud of darkness hanging over the sector, it is hard to ignore the fact that it is one of the most stable and prevalent sectors of the global economy, and, equally importantly, it has a cultural influence that most of the other industries cannot compete with. This one factor has possibly never been so important over the decades as it has now in the 21st Century. The mere factor that it has the highest potential to connect with a wide range of demographic assemblies, makes it an idyllic medium for raising awareness of important global, personal, environmental, economic and political issues. To name a few.
Fashion – The Powerful Weapon
In the modern world, we have unfortunately reached a time where there have been so many global issues that need attention, and are worthy of public attention, in every society and cultural sphere, and the ones that care have the loudest voice. There are tons of important and worthy causes at our doorstep that we see and hear about daily either on social media or the news or newspapers and magazines, and finding ways to tackle these issues may help if everyone does their part, no matter how big or small in either lending a helping hand or just promoting awareness of.
One of these ways that many individuals and companies, both online and on-ground have found that can share awareness and understanding for these issues with the public is through a very powerful weapon called – Fashion. A lot of online clothing has joined this race too. As some famous person once said, ‘if you’re not part of the problem, you should at least be part of the solution’. If you don’t have time or money to lend a helping hand you can do something as simple as wear a customised garment with a design of your choice to raise awareness, and sadly there are a lot of causes to support with a few words across your chest. An example of one such online store is this http://www.customizedinktshirts.com/.
A lot of the modern prevalent issues that society faces regularly come from a few different areas. Just a few of these common ones are below:
- Men’s Health
- Mental Awareness
- Racism
- Sex Trafficking
- Sexism
- Human Rights
- Against Violence and Abuse
- Body Positivity
- Homelessness
- Sustainability and the Environment
- Animal Rights
- HIV/AIDS Virus & Diseases
- Health
- Poverty
- Government
- Women’s Awareness
- Men’s Awareness
… and many more.
It is unfortunate to be faced by so many pressing issues in the world and not having the capacity as one person, to make any difference to it. But alas, the best we can do is by creating awareness by what we wear and how we wear it including whom we support in the fashion industry. For instance, a lot of luxury consumer brands have joined hands in doing this exact thing and using their brands as a force for good to create awareness amongst society. An example of this, is this luxury menswear label ‘Positive Luxury’ that raises awareness of the global epidemic that has affected over 36 million people – HIV/AIDS, through its apparel using a limited-edition hoodie, and whilst in collaboration with ‘Grassroot Soccer (GRS)’ a non-profit organisation, together they encourage a more healthy and productive life-style between young people and the importance of practising safe-sex.
Other Collaborations That Joined the Race
& Other Stories and CARE International – have joined forces in fighting poverty that affects women and children in particular. They used a campaign that encouraged fashion photographers to wear outfits that reflected their tastes and turn the camera onto themselves and share their masterpieces and their individual stories with others. The images are made into posters as well and sold to raise funds that are donated to the charity under the hashtag #herimageherstory.
Lakwena and Alice + Olivia – these two powerful influencers have also teamed up to help fight against the well-known and hidden issues of human trafficking. Who knew a London-based fashion designer and a clothing brand could come up with a campaign as commanding as this where the sale of their limited edition collection adorned with big and bold coloured slogans such as “when I’m free” printed on t-shirts, go towards an organisation called LifeWay Network, one of the many that have been fighting this issue since 2007 called.
Balenciaga and the World Food Programme – luxury brand creative director Denma Gvasalia, partnered with the WFP and produced a range of clothing with both their logos on them, 10 percent of the sales would go towards this humanitarian organisation to fight against poverty and hunger.
These are not even 1% of the various fashion industries that have been doing their part in trying to help with all these issues that keep getting uprooted in every corner we turn, if for nothing else, doing good, can also be good for business.
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