Transparency in Fashion: The Importance of Knowing Where Your Clothes Come From

One of the most promising trends in many industries today is that of recent efforts toward prioritizing supply chain transparency. While it might not superficially seem as pressing as other modern business issues, the truth is that more depends on the accountability created through transparency than ever before. Knowing the origin of your products is key to preventing the “bad behavior” that has been present in manufacturing for many years, highlighted by tragedies such as the 2013 Dhaka garment factory fire that took the lives of 1,134 workers and the ongoing revelations regarding the prevalence of child labor currently used to make products around the world. One of the best ways to improve factory working conditions and decrease suffering is through consumer education, so today we will briefly discuss both the importance of supply chain transparency and what we can all do to ensure we are making the right choices when we buy our clothing.

Brand Demand

Expecting more of your favorite brands is a great start to creating more transparent supply chains. In a world where competition for consumers’ hard-earned dollars is never-ending, businesses listen to the changing needs of those they serve. By shopping specifically with brands and companies who have prioritized accountability, your voice will be heard and changes for the better will inevitably come to pass. This trend becomes even more powerful when customers are willing to back up their choices with a willingness to pay more for products that were made responsibly; there will always be those who shop exclusively based on price, though so long as there is a segment of the population willing to invest in high-quality goods made by socially responsible companies, things will get better with time.

See the Signs

Look for indicators that the companies you do business with (and their suppliers) go out of their way to prioritize the well-being of their workers. Mentions on social media of corporate responsibility are a positive indicator, and strategic partnerships with ethics organizations focused on improving transparency and governance are a great sign too. A fantastic example of this in fashion is The Fair Wear Foundation, which has partnered with over 100 brands that have signed up to its code of labor practices, which do not allow for the use of child labor or other problematic production methods. They regularly audit the brands they partner with to ensure that all of the suppliers throughout the manufacturing phases meet their high standards. Another excellent organization is The Sustainability Consortium (TSC), a global initiative which partners with and trains companies to improve their sustainability, supply chain transparency, and production methods. They also assist these companies with setting up performance data collection to better allow them to “grade” their efforts and identify key areas to improve in. It should be noted that improving sustainability and supply chain transparency is often an ongoing effort. An impact report from TSC showed that the companies who reached the highest scores for accountability had also been working the longest to achieve them, so look for those with a track record of doing the right thing for several years.

Shop Local

While large-scale companies have complex, multinational setups with suppliers, smaller local companies are better able to manage their supply chains responsibly. You might have to sift through stacks of corporate filings and other documentation to get a handle on just how responsible major corporations are choosing to be, though with local businesses figuring out their values is sometimes as simple as having a friendly conversation with the owners. When margins are paramount, profit-centric corporations have to answer to shareholders, which can switch their attention away from making the right choices in favor of preserving the bottom line. For local businesses often founded on a dream rather than a ledger, their commitment to doing things the proper way may be their very purpose for existing in the first place. While shopping local is great for a variety of reasons, knowing that what you buy was made ethically is yet another reason to keep your dollars local (not to mention helping employment and pride remain high in your communities). When you find local shops like this, don’t be shy about it: help them out by sharing them on social media so others can follow in your footsteps of support!

There is value in having true transparency where your clothing’s origin is concerned. If we want to one day live in a world where the stories of unmaintained factory collapses, unsafe labor conditions, and exploited workers exist only in history books, we will need to make good purchasing decisions today. We here at Edgington Studio are proud to have made supply chain transparency, ethical labor sourcing, and awesome workspaces the foundation of our business and we look forward to finding new ways to become even better in the future. For our clients, our seamstresses, our customers, and our world, we will always strive to do our best and partner with those who have the same values. For those of you out there striving to help build a better future for the garment industry, we’ve got your back!