The luxury fashion industry has long been considered a leader in the pursuit of social justice, championing sustainability and ethical standards. recently, however, new reports have unveiled a disheartening trend: forced labor risks, particularly for workers at the very lowest rungs of luxury fashion’s production chain. In the wake of these findings, non-profit organization Walk Free has stepped in to raise awareness of the shocking risks of forced labor in the industry.
1. The Luxury Fashion Sector: Unprecedented Risks
The luxury fashion sector remains a mystery shrouded in ever-changing regulations, trends and fashions. The secret behind its success is the fact that the sector combines all of the creative, cutting edge techniques with logistical expertise such as cutting, stitching and dyeing.
The risks associated with such a high-end business, however, are unprecedented. They range from delayed deliveries, misrepresentation of materials and inconsistent quality to:
- Brand loyalty: In an ever-changing market, brand loyalty can become a thing of the past as customers are primarily driven by seasonal trends.
- Competition: The sector is increasingly marked by fierce competition from online sellers and discount stores.
- Sustained Sales: The sector relies on continued sales and a diverse product assortment which can be difficult to achieve.
Therefore, it is essential for those within the industry to take advantage of state-of-the-art technologies and innovative techniques such as digital production, customization and sustainability. Through staying one step ahead in terms of technology and being aware of the market landscape, a company can become equipped to weather any storm.
2. Forced Labor: Not the Usual Suspect
For many, force labor is a concept that calls to mind images of poor, underprivileged people in developing countries. But this sort of exploitation can take many forms and is present in even the most unexpected places.
Across the world, people from all backgrounds are facing things such as wage theft, minimum wage violations, and human trafficking. Forced labor is particularly present in industries like restaurant work, retail, and domestic work, and some forms force people to work long hours in dangerous conditions without pay and often with threats and physical violence. What’s worse, many of the affected people are migrant or refugee workers who often don’t speak the language and don’t know their rights.
The perpetrators of this exploitation are often people that we would not think of – notably large companies that might surprise you. These companies can use their resources to hide their actions and create environments in which it is difficult for the victimized workers to seek justice.
The UN Global Slavery Index estimates that around 45.8 million people are affected by forced labor across the world. Hopefully, with more awareness, organizations and governments can work together to fight this trend and create better working conditions for all.
- Forced Labor
- Present in unexpected places
- People from all backgrounds affected
- Predominately in restaurant, retail and domestic work
- Often requires long hours, dangerous conditions and no pay
- Companies often hide actions
- 45.8 million people affected
- More awareness needed to fight this trend
3. Walk Free: What They’ve Found
Freedom is something that many of us take for granted. The freedom to go where we want, when we want, is something that not everyone has access to. Walk Free, an international nonprofit, has shed light on this issue through their extensive research.
What has their research revealed? Walk Free has compiled data about 16 areas, which include women’s rights, labor exploitation, and a number of other human rights violations. Here are some of the highlights of what their research has unveiled:
- In the area of slavery, Walk Free has documented 45 million people who are experiencing some form of slavery.
- In the area of trafficking, Walk Free has found that 68% of those trafficked are women and girls.
- In the area of forced labor, Walk Free has reported that 24.9 million people are currently affected.
- In the area of child labor, Walk Free has concluded that 152 million children are performing labor at any given moment.
Through their research, Walk Free has revealed just how pervasive the issue of slavery is throughout the world. While the numbers are staggering, their research has also helped to shine a light on the subject and has spurred action to help those in need.
4. Grander Questions: Acknowledging a Systemic Problem
It is no secret that society is plagued by deeply rooted systemic issues. These problems are broadly recognized but difficult to tackle due to their intractable and far-reaching nature. The solutions, if any, require a concerted effort from multiple sources of authority and civic engagement. We need to be asking ourselves the hard questions:
- Why these issues exist in the first place?
- How can we resolve them?
It is essential to focus our attention on understanding why these issues continue to exist and how they have evolved over time. To get to the root of the problem, we need to examine our society’s biases, challenges, and advantages. Being able to recognize systemic inequities helps us to create more effective and transformative policies. By acknowledging complicated issues and the fact that they have no easy solution, we can move toward repairing decades of economic and social injustice.
From hosting and facilitating “greenwashing” summits to exposing the still-persistent problem of “disappointing” forced labor risks, Walk Free’s efforts show that luxury fashion can still be produced ethically and without further exploitation of human labor. We owe it to our workers, and to the future of luxury fashion, that these problems are addressed and rectified.
