Question

The acceleration of garment production is rooted in maximizing profit for the clothing companies, while minimizing the purchase price of garments for consumers. This mirrors a race to the bottom" mentality in many other industries. Richard Wolff says that we have been unable to properly criticize this economic model in the US. Why must the economic model be challenged? Can the garment industry truly change without fundamental change to this system? How does systems change occur? What are tipping points and how do they relate to systems change? How can you contribute? Search entries or author Unread a

Answer 1

The garment industry’s model is based on maximizing profits by increasing the revenues through expanding in different markets and minimizing the costs by outsourcing the production to cheaper labor in some countries.

It is important to challenge this model because of the inequality and environmental consequences as follows:

The workers in those countries do not receive the same kind of rights. They do not get paid at par with workers all over the world. They need to receive a protection of their human rights.

The cheap clothing is seen as disposable by people. This generates a lot of waste in terms of chemicals and other hazardous substances which harm humans and the environment.

The garment industry cannot truly change without making fundamental change to this system. This is because the garment industry has a huge human factor and the industry cannot survive by ignoring the humans and the planet.

Systems change start when one truly starts valuing the people and the plant. The voice of the people should be heard, their rights recognized, and awareness should be made about the consequences for human life and environment.

The figures on inequality, violation of human rights, and the environmental consequences are the tipping points as the clothing industry is the leading industry in the globalized world. These force us to find ways to operate in a better manner and hence, relate to the systems change.

One can contribute by spreading awareness and making conscious choice to not use products that violate the environment, such as leather.