How to support the fashion industry for a better future for the RMG sector in Bangladesh

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The RMG sector in Bangladesh, is one of the largest in the world (second only to China). The global fashion industry is woven into our economic well being; with a complicated relationship between development, growth, the well being of labor and the use of environmental resources. The impact of the industry and how it may transform, is vital to our country.

A call for change
Following the disastrous events of the Tazreen Factory Fire killing 112 people in 2012 and the Rana Plaza Collapse in 2013 which cost more than a thousand lives, a shock-wave rippled through the global fashion industry. Incredibly inexpensive and fashionable clothes have become the norm; however, suddenly, companies and consumers were taking about the conditions under which these clothes are made. A novel sense of awareness about the ethics behind fast fashion emerged.

There was an rising demand for production facilities of higher standards, with it many changes were put to place. Since then, many factories have move towards compliance. However, with an industry as large and difficult to monitor as the RMG, many factories continue to violate regulations, continue with environmentally harmful practices and employ labor in poor conditions.

So, what needs to be done for the RMG sector to innovate, and become part of a more equitable global system? What is already being done, what are some of the examplary initaitives that we can support as conscious consumers and decision makers?

The role of factories and brands
Using innovative technology solutions
Pressing concerns have meant that the industry has to use the latest tools and technology to transform processes and systems. Factories can incorporate innovative technology solutions, such as have a performance management platform. One such platform is Kinship, which allows the factory workers to be connected with management. Factory owners can communicate with thousands of workers across multiple factories. The platform streamlines administrative functions like taking leave immediately, for increased productivity and efficiency. More importantly, it gives an avenue for the workers to voice their concerns, report issues. Factories can also give announcements, put out urgent alerts keeping the workers safety and wellbeing in mind. Socially aware organisations can reach the workers through this omni channel platform- push personalized content about health and nutrition.

Becoming certified and becoming of global standard
Factories can become LEED certified. This certification contains nine prerequisites– including requiring construction materials with less carbon emission, saving electricity, preserving rainwater and having enough space to build houses, schools and bazaars within 500 square metres of the factory for the workers and their families.

Bangladesh is the country with the highest number of LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environment Design) certified garments factories. 67 garments factories hold this license, with 8 in the top 11 LEED – Platinum certification list.

RMG Bangladesh. “Green Garments Factories”. March 28, 2018
Improving methods of production
Factories can innovate in terms of the technology they use for prodcution. For example, extensive water is required to dye textile. Some companies are minimizing the harmful externalities of the chemical process of dyeing by significantly minimizing water and chemical use. One method is to use pressurized carbon dioxide instead of water as the solvent for dyes. (4)

Establishing institutions to improve transparency
Solutions require good data and so many of the issues in the RMG sector , like the amount of pollution created by the industry or the levels of efficiency ensured by an activity, is data centric. Sufficient data does not exist to corroborate much of the claims made about the RMG sector.

Although, Bangladesh has managed to attain significant success without a centralised research centre for RMG, we need to invest in credible and timely research.

China, the leading exporter of ready made garments, has an institution dedicated to conducting research and collecting data, called the China Textile Information Centre (CTIC). A similar strategy of investing a in research centre will be a step in the right direction. The collection and analysis of data can inform decision makers about which areas to prioritize. Additionally, factory owners and exporters can use the data to research and develop more productive and efficient systems. Research will increase transparency. Non-compliant factories can be held accountable if there is more information.

Your role as a consumer
Given the state of the environment, the onus does not rest with the producers alone to ensure fair and sustainable production of garments. Fashion is personal. Fashion helps people express themselves and form identities. Fashion can be an expression of cultural heritage or provide an outlet for artistic pleasure. Thus, as the world rethinks its approach to fashion, individuals must make more conscious choices. Consumer choice enables an industry into making valued, ethical, and high quality products.

Buy Less
Perhaps the simplest solution to being ethical about our wardrobes is to simply stop buying. To clarify, stop buying impulsively and unnecessarily. With much of the world at the heels of Black Friday (an ‘online tradition’ increasingly finding traction outside the United States, where it originated), this is perhaps the most crucial time of the year when we must check our own impulsive consumer behaviour. It is time to start pause before purchases and ask ourselves critical questions before making shopping choices such as– why am I buying this? Is there any other item in my closet that serves the same purpose? How long am I planning to use this clothing?

Social media, such as Instagram influencers who are now key players in the marketing and advertising of major and minor fashion brands, have fueled this culture of wastage (wearing clothes once or twice after the ‘gram) and purchasing, with daily doses of discount codes and unboxing stories. As a push back, social media personalities are now raising awareness about these issues. Accounts such as instagram.com/aditimayer are educating followers on the factors to consider before donating clothes.

Watch where you are buying from
Globally, there are companies which are recognizing this shift away from fast fashion and incorporating strategies in response. Some brands are moving towards a circular fashion market in which items can be reused or repurposed at the end of its life. Retailers and online platforms such as Poshmark and Tradesy resell used clothing to consumers. Some companies like Patagonia’s Worn Wear buy back their own clothing.

Locally founded ethical fashion initiatives
In Bangladesh, an online thrift store has opened up recently on Instagram called Pet Rock Vintage that resells vintage items of clothing sourced from different parts of the world, all of which are include the era and style of the clothes as well as transparent details of their condition.

Another initiative known as Broque has been founded by Mahenaz Chowdhury. Broque encourages their customers to bring old pieces of clothing which they no longer wish to wear and Baroque then finds a creative way to reconstruct the outfit to make something completely new.

“I want to make people aware about where their fabric is coming from and what consequences that purchase has on the nation, people and climate.”

Says Mahenaz, founder of Broque

As revolutionary and necessary as this concept is, shops like Broque
are boutique and cannot enjoy the low cost of operations that comes with scale. This brings us to the next point.

Buy less but pay more for what you buy.

If customers are more ethically aware about the origins of our clothes, they must quite literally pay the price. Long term thinking requires sacrificing the convenience of buying the latest, most fashionable items at dirt cheap prices. Instead, a conscious consumers can understand that higher prices may mean that factories will pay fairer wages for garments workers. Additionally, we may more care of an item– exchanging and sharing– being reluctant to easily replace it or throw it away into the landfills.

It’s time to return to our local ideals and tradition
In this part of the world, there is a existing practice to hand down sharees, shawls and other items of clothing that have been hand-made with care and love across generations. These items carry sentimental value; when they choose to wear a nokshikatha sharee of their nani’s they, in essence, perform a ritual that shows respect and admiration for the craft and labour that went behind the making of the garment.

While, things such as “up-cycling” are trendy buzzwords these days, it is and was common for our mothers and her mother’s generation to creatively transform old clothes. Ornas become stitched into sleeping pajamas, elegant lehengas are made from sharee fabric, second to none in quality and beauty. These practices have been ingrained in our culture and region long before West-centric consumerist culture swept across the world.

Sustainable way forward
Much of the conversation surrounding fashion in the modern day can seem depressing. With many of us passionate about fashion, it can seem that we are being robbed from some of the activities we most find enjoyable. Although change is difficult to adjust to, the reality also presents itself with a host of opportunities to continue being fashionable, sustainably.

In terms of environmental impact and worker’s wellbeing– the factories and retail brands must assume huge responsibility in the way they do business in the future. Some have been forced to take action already. For others, the pressure must arrive from the consumers, environmental activists and governing bodies to change the course of direction.
Source: https://hifipublic.com

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