BUT HOW SHOULD WE SHOP? (above: Rana Plaza December 2013: freshly dug bones) So, Fashion Revolu
BUT HOW SHOULD WE SHOP? (above: Rana Plaza December 2013: freshly dug bones) So, Fashion Revolution Day+1 and the question remains: if you MUST shop the mall (though: why?), then which brands should you avoid like the plague? In the FRD Earth Day booth this week, that’s what everyone wanted to know. So here’s a starter shortlist, worst first. BOYCOTT… These brands produced clothes at Rana Plaza yet have not contributed to the victim compensation fund that’s raised only 38% of the needed $40m… The only ones here to not join the Alliance for Bangladesh Worker Safety: AND Parent company Ascena says: “We make people feel good about themselves. Through an engaging store experience, convenient locations, and of course offering fashion at great value…” [if at great cost to its producers: people who are not feeling good about themselves] At least this one’s in the Alliance: From the JCP 2013 Sustainability Report: “Our strategy is… to continue exploring the production capabilities of emerging economies.” [to see how much we can get away with milking them?] GO SLOW… These brands have joined the Alliance, and donated to the victims fund, but not nearly enough given the level of their Bangladesh production. AND Gap donated about half a million to the fund, despite not having production at Rana Plaza. BUT they still turn a blind eye to the Bangladeshi sweatshops they use. A lot. Especially for Old Navy. Walmart contributed an undisclosed amount, probably <$500K–their first ever donation of this kind! Not nearly enough for a giant retailer with massive Bangladesh presence. SLIGHTLY FAVOR… The giganto VF Corporation (this is just four of their 25 brands) chipped in a similar paltry amount. At least they weren’t (ab)using Rana Plaza. And at least they admit: “As a global corporation, we are still in the early stages of our sustainability journey…” But the sad fact remains: THE MALL IS NOT SAFE. Word -- source link
#rana plaza