In the range of social-justice issues clamoring for our attention, clothing doesn’t tend to rank very high. We often think of what we wear as an individual choice of self-expression rather than an ethical decision. But more and more, consumers, activists, and legislators have come to understand the complex set of issues that come with making, selling, and buying clothing.
The clothing that we wear every day is the result of expansive—and opaque—supply chains spread throughout the world that have a profound effect on people and the planet. Most garment makers are underpaid and overworked women in the Global South. Brands churn out clothes at such a staggering rate that consumers can’t keep up—and neither can the environment. Apparel production strains natural resources and pollutes communities with no signs of stopping.
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