Is Fashion Made Locally Better?
Is it preferable to purchase clothing manufactured in your nation of residence? Furthermore, do nation of origin labels really provide us with the whole picture? Here, we talk about whether buying clothes created locally is more moral. Before you make your next purchase, read on to learn more.
The intricate supply networks concealed by country of origin markings
Many buyers accept a product’s “Made in…” label at face value; after all, if it reads Australia, it stands to reason that the whole thing originated there. Not exactly, however. Labels indicating a garment’s country of origin seldom reveal the intricate and interconnected supply networks that precede the final manufacturing step, which is often indicated on the label. In reality, if a garment has undergone enough transformation in a certain nation, it may be labeled with that nation’s origin in many parts of the globe, even if the bulk of its components were made somewhere else.
Regulations pertaining to the labeling of the nation of origin differ by geographical location. For example, in the United States, a garment may only bear the label “Made in USA” if both the garment and the materials used to make it were produced there. In the UK, on the other hand, laws on country of origin labeling are less stringent and only apply where consumers stand to be deceived about the genuine origin in the event that a label is not present. Additionally, it differs throughout EU members.
Consumption and globalization have shortened travel times and increased demand for the newest fashionable apparel as soon as possible. You may find it more difficult to track supply chains and to determine the true manufacturing location of your clothing when you purchase online. Are the labels accurate? Or do they cover up an intricate network of exploitation-prone suppliers? Does this imply that you should only make local purchases? Locally produced clothing may cost more, but is the difference really worth it?
Is clothing produced locally more environmentally friendly?
Theoretically, it’s simpler to keep companies responsible when they produce locally since, for example, they’re more likely to learn if it’s affecting the local water supply. It’s not quite that easy, however, since it’s rare that a brand’s whole supplier chain is headquartered nearby, even if it does manufacture locally. The majority of clothing products undergo many manufacturing phases that take place in various locations. These stages include the procurement of raw materials, conversion of raw materials into fabric, and final cutting and stitching to create the final product. There are many things that need to be thought about.
An item of clothing has a long and intricate journey. Growing, processing, sewing, and selling raw materials all in one place is very uncommon, and the environment is impacted at every step of the production chain.
For bright and colorful apparel, the situation becomes much more difficult since all those sequins, glitters, and dyes need to originate from someplace and will eventually return to the environment. Be ready to inquire with merchants about the origins of all those extras and whether or not they will biodegrade, in addition to the clothing’s manufacturing location.
Clothing certification programs such as the Global Organic Textile Standard may serve as a foundation for verifying that no harmful dyes have been used in the dying process. They are doing this for their personal health as well as the sake of the environment.
Local manufacturing often allows businesses more control over their supply chain than mass production seen in fast fashion. This control may enable them to more easily create things made to order or stop producing items that aren’t selling well. This might assist in resolving the widespread issue of waste resulting from overproduction and deadstock textiles, which are leftover production materials that are often thrown away.
Is local production beneficial to the public?
Numerous fast-fashion businesses source from nations with cheap labor costs and a history of violating labor and human rights regulations, which often results in exploitation. Because of this, garment workers in a few main manufacturing nations have to deal with discrimination, sexual harassment, long hours, and forced overtime. Some might argue that local manufacture may help prevent this, pointing out that it is more difficult to hold companies responsible and guarantee the welfare of individuals creating the garments when production takes place in remote locations and transparency is lacking.
However, improved working conditions for people engaged in the last step of manufacturing are not necessarily associated with locally created goods. According to a research conducted in 2022 in Leicester, UK, 56% of garment sector workers polled had received less than the minimum wage, 55% had not received vacation pay, and a third had neither a contract nor a payslip. The outcomes aren’t all much better when you look at US reporting. It was discovered in 2021 that thousands of Southern California garment factory workers, producing clothing for high-end fashion labels, were working 60-hour work weeks in hazardous circumstances for less than the minimum wage.
A word on women in supply chains, especially women of color
The actual driving factor behind the clothing is women. Women of color make up the bulk of garment workers worldwide. All of these women’s employment in the apparel sector have the potential to empower them economically. They need to be financially independent enough to choose whether and how much to work, as well as how to allocate their earnings between savings and spending. By empowering these people, clothing created from a distance has the potential to do amazing things. However, everyone must continue to be aware of the possibility of gender-based violence in supply chains, which may indicate that women are subject to discrimination or worse. Given that they are often the main caregiver, women also have particular demands. One example of this is daycare. Regretfully, the fashion business seldom provides for these demands.
What happens to animals in locally produced clothing?
Finally, you must consider the role that non-human creatures play in this and how they coexist with humans on the earth.
Animal welfare in the fashion business is a major concern in many nations, and since regional laws pertaining to animal welfare vary greatly, the answer to the question of how animals are treated in local manufacturing relies on the location of the animals. In the end, regardless of where they are created, animal-derived products like leather and fur have a significant influence on the animals involved, the environment, and humans as well.
To help you identify which countries of origin to avoid, World Animal Protection has put up a helpful database of 50 nations along with the rules they uphold—or don’t—for our feathered, scaled, and furry creatures. If the leather items you’re considering buying aren’t supported by any animal welfare certificates, you may want to pass on them. China and India produce a large portion of the leather that is marketed across the globe, but neither country has strict animal welfare laws.
It’s critical to purchase apparel from companies who respect sustainability, health, and animal ethics. And this will differ from nation to nation and from brand to brand. Whenever feasible, try to purchase used items; by not directly supporting the creation of the clothing, this reduces the effect in all three categories.
Is locally produced superior?
Purchasing products from companies that manufacture close to home may be a wise decision, particularly if there is proof that they are following best practices to lessen their effect.
Like everything, purchasing locally produced products has advantages and disadvantages. Instead of enriching the coffers of fast fashion conglomerates, it may also assist local enterprises. It also implies more responsibility and traceability. But it’s crucial to keep in mind that no product can ever be really local since the fashion supply chain is so intricate. Whether people purchase apparel from a high street store or online, it has probably already traveled some distance across the globe and affected the environment before getting there.
In the end, it all comes down to how the companies you choose to support, wherever they may be in the globe, are handling their effects across the supply chain.
Good On You is the best place to begin your investigation. If you ever come across a local business and you’re not sure how it’s harming people, the earth, and animals, use their app or site directory to check its rating and determine if it’s worth supporting. Their ratings approach is the most thorough and rigorous in the fashion industry. Additionally, you may submit a request using the app if it hasn’t been rated yet.
The ideal solution does not exist. But purchasing fewer clothing, eschewing fast fashion, and opting for used items will undoubtedly contribute to a brighter future for humans, the environment, and animals.
