ETHICAL

Many people have probably seen televised examples of the animal cruelty that can be involved in testing beauty products. Remember the images of rabbits helplessly accepting eyefuls of chemicals? Fashion products, too, have come under fire for being “unethically” produced, whether through the use of child labour, operating in unfair trading environments or through the use of environmentally harmful chemicals in the production of the raw materials. As more consumers become aware of these ethical dilemmas, more companies attempt to position themselves on the “ethical” side of the fence. Even these companies show little compassion, though, for their prospective customers, advertising things like 'skinny-fit fashion t-shirts...made with 100% Fairtrade certified high-grade organic cotton from India.' So, even though the cotton is produced fairly and with minimised environmental impact, the so-called importance of being skinny is stressed as mercilessly as ever.
cottonProducer

One high-profile example of ethics in the fashion industry is that of the use of animal fur to make items of apparel. Widespread advertising campaigns blitzed the media with images of models swaddled in furs as they pranced up and down the catwalk drenching the crowd as they twirled and turned with the blood of the animals used to make the products. Several alternatives to fur have been developed and are in wide distribution. Still, even the presence of these ethically enhanced options in the marketplace highlights the pressures consumers are placed under to do their best to look good on the outside.