Cop Proposal The women in fast fashion factories and the ethical trading industry
Introduction/ Aims I want to explore the area of ethical trading within the fashion industry, in particular the role of women in the fast fashion factories and sweatshops. I want to focus on how women may encounter discrimination and how some companies help empower women in these positions. Women are often in a position of vulnerability in these factories, with their supervisors often being men, they are often not treated fairly and left vulnerable to physical and emotional assault. However I also want to consider what fashion is doing to empower women in these situations, how the fashion industry is creating new opportunities for these women and promoting their traditions and history.
Points to consider •Pay gap between men and women within these factories and how ethical trading helps resolves this. •How and to what extent are women placed in vulnerable positions when working in these environments •Recent disasters in factories and how this impacts the fashion industry and the ethical trading industry eg. Rana Plaza. •The position of women in the factories and their supervisors who are mainly men. •How the ethical trading industry helps promote different cultures, their history and there traditions.
References Panorama special: Primark on the rack. / Heap, Tom (2008) No sweat: fashion, free trade and the rights of garment workers. / Ross, Andrew (1997) Clean clothes: a global movement to end sweatshops. / Sluiter, Liesbeth (2009) Unfair trade: the shocking truth behind ethical business. / Woodman, Conor (2011) http://www.ethicalfashionforum.com/source-directory/directory/1/ search_results “Buyers pressure factories to deliver quality products with ever-shorter lead times. Most factories just don’t have the tools and expertise to manage this effectively, so they put the squeeze on the workers. It’s the only margin they have to play with.” (Oxfam report, 2004)
Rana Plaza Disaster and Fashion Revelution https://www.gov.uk/government/case-studies/the-rana-plaza-disaster Primarks involvement in this and how they have tried to recover the situation with funding, whether this has actually helped or if this isn’t an issue. Considering how this effects women and families that were working there. Look at other disasters in factories and how this effects their lives/ the fashion industry. Primarks response to the disaster and whether this had improved the lives of the women working there. http://www.primark.com/en/our-ethics/news/rana-plaza THE FASHION REVELUTION Set up in response to the Rana Plaza disaster and is working on promoting the ethical fashion trade. Co-founder Carry Sommers. http://fashionrevolution.org/
Beyonce’s Ivy Park collection for Topshop Issues surrounding the wages that she pays the workers in the factories. Consider whether big names like this are doing enough to help their workers even if they are being paid the minimum wages, is that enough. The website has no mention of the people who created these clothes. Beyonce is often a strong figure head for female empowerment however if the claims about her factories are true then it is questionable whether we should see her as this.
http://sharingvalue.asia/ivy-park-accused-over-wages/ http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/entry/beyonce-topshop-sweatshop_uk_5739a3b9e4b0f0f53e366f64 http://www.ethicalfashionforum.com/source-directory/directory/1/ search_results - directory of brands that are ethical traders.
Women Empowerment Women are ‘the majority of workers, yet among the most vulnerable’ In sweatshops and factories in many countries many women are discriminated against and not treated fairly. Exploring why and how this is acceptable, whether fashion companies are doing enough to help these women and if not how can they do more. This article explores the challenges women face in these circumstances, what the fashion industry can do to help empower women and the stastics involving women and gender roles concerning work and pay roles. http://www.ethicaltrade.org/ethical-trade-issues http://www.ethicaltrade.org/issues/empowering-women-workers
Carry Sommers - Pachacuti Can hopefully contact and interview for research on ethical trading and womens postition in the ethical trading within fashion as she is a family friend. •Fashion Designer and Social Entrepenuer •Apart of the Fashion Revelution •Pachacuti is a ethical trading shop, that focuses on handmade hats made and imported from Panama. The company focuses on ensuring ethical trading is in place and the people and materials along the way are treated properly. The weaving of the hats tells a story about the people and the community, ‘interweaving social and political history’ of Sigsig, Panama
“Pachacuti, the Derbyshire-based hat brand known for its authentic panamas and being the first company in the world to be accredited by the World Fair Trade Organisation.”Anna Wintour http://www.panamas.co.uk/
JP Rogers •Owner and founder of Equatorial clothing shops in Ashbourne and Matlock. •JP travels and creates connections throughout the world which have helped form his ethical trading clothing store. He is aware of the current issues in ethical trading and is willing to communicate with me in an interview process and give advice on the subject. •Family Friend
Questionaire Create a survey for a variety of people to fill out to gain research on how aware general people are on the role of women and the situation for women within the fashion sweatshops and factories, the current issues and problems and how ethical trading within fashion is a positive. I think it is essential to find out the views and awareness of the general public. The issues surrounding women in the factories and supply chains of fast fashion. It would be beneficial research to find out the extent of people’s knowledge on the subject to consider whether this topic is in need to promotion throughout the world to change the circumstances of women in fast fashions factory environments.
I AM ALSO REALLY UNSURE WHETHER THIS IS THE ROUTE I WANT TO GO DOWN. I AM REALLY INTERESTED IN COSTUME AND THEREFORE I ALSO WANT TO CONSIDER THIS ROUTE BEFORE I FINALISE MY DECISION. I WOULD LIKE TO DO SOME RESEARCH INTO THE STORY OF SWEENY TODD AS I THINK THAT I CAN DRAW FROM HISTORICAL REFERENCES AND ALSO THE DIFFERENT ADAPTATIONS OF THE FILM.