Comments on: Who is the ethical consumer?

By: Lisa

Lisa — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 04:52:31 +0000

Thank you for taking the time to write this blog! The best way to assure that we will no one day have no need to separate ethical clothing from the rest is to have more people like you, talking about the issue. I believe that companies will start to see the financial benefit to producing clothing with higher standards when more of us start buying it! They are motivated by the bottom line and we need to send the message that theirs will improve!

By: Bibico

Bibico — Thu, 08 Oct 2009 14:31:12 +0000

In the last few years ethical clothing has really taken off and that’s not just because more people have developed a conscience, it’s because ethical clothing is fashionable and some of the best styles come under this heading. If you want to see some fashionable but fair clothes you should check out http://www.bibico.co.uk.
As ethical clothing styles become more fashionable it becomes easier to raise the importance of fairtrade and to grow in this way

By: Krystle Manintveld

Krystle Manintveld — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 22:33:36 +0000

I do agree that buying ethical clothing should be about much more than being trendy. However, part of me also wonders if everyone will ever care about where there clothes are made. If ethical clothing is seen as fashionable (and of course the definition of this varies), well that might be one giant step towards our goals. After all, corporations have been avoiding dealing with labour issues for decades, but they spend millions on marketing research every season in an attempt to sell “trendy” products.

By: Sir Yodle

Sir Yodle — Thu, 05 Mar 2009 08:01:39 +0000

Just to add to my previous–

I just looked over what I wrote and I don’t want what I’ve said to overshadow the value in your work. Really the most important thing is positive steps of any kind; it seems you have that in plenty, and so I chose to focus on potential improvements to the approach.

The last thing I want to do is sound full of reproach, or as if your efforts are anything less than valiant and powerful.

Thanks for the hard work, and please think about what I’ve said.

By: Sir Yodle

Sir Yodle — Thu, 05 Mar 2009 07:56:43 +0000

I have to agree with Beanie; though I love what you’re doing here (and I really do), coming across “holier than thou” only speaks to those already hot about the issue; in fact, as Beanie said, it will only alienate the lukewarm.

And what IS lukewarm, except an easy opportunity to become hot (or vice versa…)? Those consumers who know little of the plight you are fighting for, but are willing to buy those lines of clothing labeled “eco-friendly”, or “fair-trade”, or anything of the sort really are the bread and butter, the lifeblood of a movement like this. Engaging those consumers should be paramount.

Also, Beanie’s comments about sales figures as motivation are spot on. It’s just business sense. Those that make decisions about what and what not to offer respond only to the language they speak: $$$. Indulge them! Make a point to buy those products and encourage what they see as their own brilliant idea; and encourage friends and family to do the same!

To distill it down to a single dark truth– human beings, as a whole, do not make huge changes in behavior and mindset because it’s the right thing to do. They fit in with trends, they change gradually, and look back after making the switch through baby-steps; only then do they see the error of previous choices.

I’m that way. And you are too. Let’s keep in touch with that idea and use it to our advantage.

By: Beanie

Beanie — Wed, 11 Feb 2009 17:05:01 +0000

I see your point and agree with you entirely that clothing must be ethical as standard, not a “niche” range, just the same as food should be free from harmful chemicals as standard, not as a luxury. But you are making the classic ethical / eco campaigner mistake – you are lecturing and sound preachy and nothing that anyone does is good enough for your high moral stance. This just alienates people who think “oh whats the point then!”
The strategy needs to be realistic – you cannot force an entire industry to change from what it has always been in a very short space of time. I think its great that 2 important mainstream retailers (M&S & Topshop) have started stocking ethical ranges & applaud the likes of People Tree etc who are making an effort. Its a start, and way better than what many others are doing, so you should be picking on the likes of Tesco, George@Asda, Primark, H&M, Nike, Adidas etc instead to pull their finger out!
You say these ranges placate the consumer instead of activiting her but thats not true. The type of activity that retailers respond to is sales. If consumers buy into these ranges, retailers respond by rolling it out further. Thats just how they work. If we boycott these ranges on the principle that every item in the shop is not ethically produced, it just sends them backwards again & they would not listen.
The same goes with consumer mentality. Many consumers of all ages have never even heard the phrase “ethically-produced clothing”, so in-fighting amongst various organisations who have a shared goal, about what does/does not constitute “ethical” helps no-one, and just shows a weak and non-allied front. Sorry to make it sound like a war but its the only metaphor that worked!
I think the best approach is educating consumers – particularly women as they are the ones who spend the most on “fast fashion” and probably do not realise where it comes from.

By: jazz

jazz — Thu, 16 Oct 2008 15:32:41 +0000

if your interested in learning more about fashion with a social conscience why not check out Edun Live, the ethical clothing company set up by Ali Hewson and Bono. http://edunlive.blogspot.com/

By: Fairtrade - Gut, böse, Marketing-Gag? - Nachhall Texter

Fairtrade - Gut, böse, Marketing-Gag? - Nachhall Texter — Thu, 18 Sep 2008 09:17:46 +0000

[...] Sehr lesenswert in diesem Zusammenhang ist der schon etwas ältere Blogeintrag: Who is the Ethical Consumer? Tags: Bio-Supermärkte, CO2, Fairtrade, Marketing, Nahrung, PR, World Trade Organisation (WTO) Zum [...]

By: jay

jay — Sun, 13 Jul 2008 02:00:13 +0000

but what about then people who say fairtrade is not entirely fair because some ‘fairtrade’ factories still pay unfair wages? how is the ethical consumer supposed to respond to that? this one genuinely has me worried.
Please reply soon.

By: SRI LANKA APPAREL

SRI LANKA APPAREL — Sun, 16 Mar 2008 08:19:42 +0000

Friends if you want to witness ethical fashion in making and in practice we invite you to Sri Lanka. Pls come and explore for yourselves how we are partnering our world’s leading labels in not only building a culture of ethical business, but also build communities and welfare projects around it.
http://www.garmentswithoutguilt.com