How much does Fashion cost?
*You might not know that most
of the world's clothing is manufactured in sweatshops
in poorer countries, where workers earn less
than they need to live. The workers face cramped
or unsanitary conditions, and are often subjected
to abuse.
As global awareness of the real
price of fashion grows, many consumers as well
as some clothing manufacturers are leading the
push for more eco- and worker-friendly apparel.
Here
at Mission Playground we are trying to make
a push in the clothing industry towards more
environmentally sound products. It's not enough
having a visual message on your shirt. We think
the shirt itself should send a message from
start to finish.
Here are a few Things that you
might not have known:
* Hispanic workers earn 85 cents
an hour for their labor, while in Indonesia
the pay is only 15 cents an hour. Even in
the United States, a worker may earn less
than $5 for making a garment that will sell
for $100.
* A cotton T-shirt blended with
polyester can release approximately one quarter
of its weight in air pollutants and 10 times
its weight in carbon dioxide.
*Most conventional cotton growing
relies on heavy inputs of insecticides, herbicides,
and chemical fertilizers, many of which are
known or probable carcinogens.
Here are some things that you
can do:
* Get Involved! In the United
States, student activists have demanded that
their schools contract only with “sweat-free”
producers.
* Cotton blends can be combined
with materials such as hemp or Recycled fibers.
* Organic cotton growing accounts
for only 0.03 percent of the world's cotton,
but is expanding. Although organic materials
might cost a little more it is well worth
the investment.
- Ask for organic cotton goods
at your local retailer.
Mission Playground is working
towards our goal of offering fully organic t-shirts
and other garments produced out of recycled
fibers and materials. As we continue to grow
we will expand our 100% eco-friendly product
base.
* Information provided by "Worldwatch
Institute"
