What is Ethical Clothing and why such ethics in fashion?
At Folklove, we are on our way to becoming accredited with the ECA as an Ethical clothing maker and very proud of our journey to here so far.
The realisation that cheap clothing is not cheap at all, that there is a human, animal, plant and planet cost involved and that there is always a corner cut to low cost high profit leading to exploitation and slavery at its worst and poor working conditions at its best - we need to change the way we buy, sell, wear, dispose of and repurpose our fashion purchases and unfortunately fashion bloggers are adding to the damage. We cannot catch up with recycling, repurposing, and avoiding landfill if more fashion is dumped in the tonnes that is a daily practice.
We are only just catching up now to the other fashion industry leaders in choosing ethical practices in growing, processing, milling, spinning, dyeing and weaving of fabrics worldwide.
Offshore manufacturing played a big part of the see no evil, hear no evil practices that led to environmental disasters like the collapse of Rana Plaza in Bangladesh. ( https://www.sourcify.com/7-of-the-worlds-deadliest-manufacturing-disasters-in-the-last-20-years)
Ethical choices benefit the earth, the plants, animals and people involved in industry and provide a framework for regenerative agriculture practices, fair pay and conditions, supportive working environments, clean air, clean and safe working environment, reduced pollution and runoff waste, utilising and sourcing ethical products that demonstrate a transparent pathway of from beginning to end means the garment you are enjoying has not been made through sacrifice of basic human rights, environmental damage or animal cruelty .
Ethically sourced fabrics offer transparency, they have a traceable line directly to their origins and welcome inquiry as to their source without greenwashing the product.
We source our Linen fabrics from ethical established family businesses in Lithuania where the workers are paid the correct wages, have paid holidays and insurance and are looked after.
The growing also is naturally organic and has no pesticides added.
We pride our use of natural fabrics that do not require harsh chemical intrusion or contaminate soil or water sources or the process worker breathing in toxic chemicals either.
Basically it is down to supply and demand, you get to choose.
We choose ethical and sustainable and good for the planet, If its not natural we don't want to wear it either.