Post by the terrific Analise Greenhalgh from our blogger team.
Written in April last year, Baptist World Aid Australia released their sixth edition of the Ethical Fashion Report. The report aims to provide an unbiased evaluation of 480 brands in relation to their performance in areas like policies, accountability, supplier relationships, worker empowerment and environmental management. So what does all this tell us about the best places to shop?
Cotton On
The Cotton On group rates surprisingly high amongst the other brands. It received an A+ in both traceability and policy, however only received a B in worker empowerment. Overall, it’s pretty good with clothes at a decent price!
Kathmandu
Kathmandu makes durable clothes for both kids and adults. Their products’ long-lasting nature is part of why they scored an A in the report. The only areas of improvement were in worker empowerment and environmental management.
ASOS
What’s great about ASOS is that they are an online brand and deliver all over Australia. However because they stock other brands, they are open to areas of unethical treatment of workers, not-so-great relationships with suppliers and a clash of environmental policies. It’s because of this that they only received a B, but generally, they are pretty good!
General Pants Co.
General Pants is known for having the latest trends and stocking well-known international brands, like Levi’s, Afends, and Birkenstock. It’s because of this that they rate pretty well in terms of their policies and sustainability. Their only downfall – they received a D+ in worker empowerment.
All in all, it’s good to look at reports like this and work out how your choices as a consumer have an impact in a broader context. But it is also up to you to find different ways of exploring fashion. Places like Vinnies and the Salvos are great sources for cheap, vintage clothing. Another way to give your wardrobe an update is a clothes swap with friends. Set some ground rules, and then go for gold! These alternate sources of fashion can help in the global effort to reduce material waste.