Tuesday, August 7, 2012

Ethical fashion now in Africa

8:55 AM | Posted by African Fashions | | Edit Post

Some term it as Eco-fashion, while others call it Ethical fashion, whichever way, the main point is that they talk about the social and environmental conscious fashion. 

In 2000, a report was released that the world’s consumers spent 1 trillion dollars buying clothing outfits. This shows that fashion world has some power on the economic, political, social and environmental sectors. Though eco-fashion industry in Africa is still in its infancy, it will be great to see more of the African fashion manufacturers and designers start using sustainable processes and materials. We might go a level higher an overlook the issue and say- clothing is clothing and fashion is fashion, but is there ay difference? Maybe when you realize that the beautiful bag you bought recently was made after an animal was streamed alive, you will understand things better. Ethical fashion is one way of the many we (consumers) can use in reducing poverty while improving the environment and make world a better and safer place.

Ethical fashion-definition

According to EFF-ethical fashion forum, ethical fashion describes the design, retail, production and retailing of items. It covers range of issues such as pay and working conditions, sustainable production, fair trade, environment and animal welfare and such. Ethical fashion in Africa is aiming to address various problems such as environmental damage, animal cruelty, waste, exploitative forced labor, use of dangerous chemicals. In a bit to make consumers updates of how such outfits are produced, manufacturing partners through ethical brands such as ASOS Africa and SOKO Kenya offers traceability and transparency.

An eye on Africa

From research, mostly from the international brands that make use of plethora of raw resources we have in the fashion scene, you should realize that most African designers don’t use these raw materials, and instead prefers buying, cutting and sewing the materials.

More ethical industrialists and designers have recognized that organic cotton can be used as a sustainable alternative. Organic cotton helps in cutting cost, eliminating need for harmful and expensive chemicals and demand for higher price which in addition helps in reducing poverty. Scualternatives can be tapped to get more ethical African fashion practices.

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