Towards an Ethical Fashion Framework

The term ethical fashion has been used widely to bring out the image of design, sourcing, and making of clothing that matches with the societal likes and cultures of different communities. The word “ethical” shows that the attire is morally acceptable and have no harm to the affected culture. According to Abrahamson, 2011 the fashion industry is one of the most growing sectors in today’s world of business.  The old fashions are being replaced by new ones with more creativity being added to the designs.  However, some issues are closely associated with the fashion trends irrespective of the society in question. These are the fashion ethics, fashion thinking, models and ethical fashion thinking.  All these factors are aimed at understanding of fashion while causing no harm to the environment, economy and the society at large.

In the society today there has been the urge to identifying and using environmental friendly ethical production in all forms of products. Many of the involved companies have started deploying methods that will help produce more friendly fashion. Introduction of organic production, as well as fair trade products, is a great contributor to this. Ethical fashion may be understood as fashion with conscience where the manufacturing, consumption, and trading are involved. Some of the main problems in the fashion industry include representation of idealized gender and body images, fake good being produced in the market, poor working conditions, environmental impact and sustainability and the animal rights. In the world of fashion today, companies are trying to make goods, recycle old materials, design universal style and ensure the world go green in the production part.
    Anders (2016) the journal of dress, body and culture.

Ethical consumption for the users can be defined as the avoidance of practices that might cause harm or negativity to other people, animals and the environment at large. Consumers have to observe all these issues whenever they are dealing with the global fashion policies. Regarding the handling of users, the involved service providers should make sure they create any relevant awareness to their customers. This involves informing the clients on the unethical practices that they should not follow. The idea of green marketing should also be shared widely to help stimulate eco-fashion consumptions. This is because although users have specific taste and brands that they would wish to purchase, they lack the knowledge on how to differentiate between the best and environmentally friendly products from the rest. Additionally, there is a gap between what customers know about ethical fashion and what they do in return to maintain this. End users should, therefore, be educated on the importance of acting on the ethical values they have been taught.

With the increasing trends in fashion in the current century, end users and producing companies should observe the rules of ethical fashion. Ensuring that the products are environmentally friendly, morally right and economic-oriented. This will provide maintenance of a moral fashion across the globe.

Questions
Is the current mode of fashion environmental friendly?
What are effects of unethical fashion to both the users and the producing companies?


Reference
Anders (2016); towards an ethical fashion framework: Fashion Theory: journal of Fashion Marketing and Management: An International Journal, 10(3), 360-371.