Dress for distress

In English we have begun the topic of the Media. As my class of around 19-22 ish students (AP English: the pinnacle of empty classes!) discuss/ argue the properties of product placement and ethics in general, our teacher asks us a question that didn't have anything to do with the topics at hand whatsoever. "Who shops at Zara?" About three or four hands -including mine- shoot into the air. Our teacher then begins to describe an article he read about the cooperation of Zara receiving backlash after SOS messages were found in the clothing, hand sewn by the factory workers of Turkey.

My heart sinks, as Zara would probably be in a category of top three most shopped-at stores for my family of three daughters (plus my mom, who's worse than all of us). Thus raising the question: do we stop shopping there because of their treatment of the employees? Am I able to wear Zara branded clothing without feeling pangs of guilt each time?

Before we go into the debate of ethics and morality versus consumer habits etc, a little background on Zara: the brand has over 5,000 branches worldwide, and roughly 92,000 employees. Therefore, it is no surprise that it's the daughter company of the world's leading clothing retailer, Inditex. Inditex also birthed brands such as Pull & Bear and Bershka. Half of the companies' production is harboured in Spain, while the others divide evenly between other European areas and third-world-countries. In 2011, the Brazilian government pressed the corporation to improve working conditions for the factory labourers, however it was found that roughly 7,000 workers were still abhorrently mistreated following the agreement made between Inditex and the government. In the latest report given by the Brazilian Labour Ministry, instead of making attempts to improve and better the dire conditions, Inditex turned its cheek which therefore resulted in 31 factories closing. Fifteen workers were found and "rescued" by the Brazilian government, one was 14. (To read about this in more detail,  go to https://www.theguardian.com/fashion/2015/may/12/zara-owner-inditex-fines-brazil-working-conditions-claim) Inditex could be facing millions in fines.

Presently, it is being found that workers in the Bravo Tekstil branch of factories in Turkey have been stitching notes onto articles of clothing, begging for outsider help as they have been facing terrible conditions without being paid. 

To break down the system that is payment for these Zara factory workers: A pair of Zara jeans can cost the consumer upward $100 US. It was revealed that these jeans would've been manufactured at roughly $1.14 US. This cost is then taken and subdivided between all of those who were involved in making those jeans. That is 16 cents for making a pair of jeans that would cost an unsuspecting customer roughly $126. These workers earned about $223 monthly, while the Brazilian minimum wage is $344.

In response, Zara has announced they will be launching a fund for those who have been mistreated, however funds as such are not often successful. "Workers are often very scared to (publicly complain), so you can imagine how bad the situation is," says said John Morrison, chief executive of Britain's Institute for Human Rights and Business. These workers are too timid and helpless to stand up to their employers, as easy as that may sound to do in Ontario. 

Now, we arrive at the question, does one stop purchasing, therefore branding and endorsing a brand based on ethics? On the one hand, what the companies are putting their workers through is morally horrid, but on the other are we to stifle our consumer habits because of it? How many other companies are the same, or worse yet we have no idea about it?

Personally, I don't know the answer to the question. Unfortunately we live in a world where the cries of the needy are being tuned out by televisions and music on the radio, and we, as the new generation are supposed to be the ones to break the trend. On the other hand, these corporations are worth billions with franchises around the world- how can we even dream about making a difference? 

What do you think? Should we compromise our humanity for pretty clothing? How do we possibly begin to try to help?

Think about it!

Love, Isabela.

sources: http://www.cbc.ca/news/business/zara-workers-turkey-1.4403698

https://www.theguardian.com/fashion/2015/may/12/zara-owner-inditex-fines-brazil-working-conditions-claim

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2011/aug/18/zara-brazil-sweatshop-accusation

https://www.forbes.com/sites/andersonantunes/2011/08/17/zara-accused-of-alleged-slave-labor-in-brazil/#65057241a519