Ethical Fashion: What, Why and Why Now?

Ethical Fashion

Overview

What is ethical fashion, why is it important, and why are we just hearing about it now? Well, to answer these questions we start with what is wrong with clothing production today. Most clothing available in stores today is produced in an unethical manner using sweatshop and/or child labour to ensure a larger profit margin. Manufacturers use unsustainable fabrics like non-organic cotton (dubbed as natural, it accounts for almost 25% of all pesticide use) and polyester (which is a petroleum by-product). They use conventional dying practices which release chlorine, chromium, and other pollutants into the environment posing a health risk to the farmers, assemblers and wearers (7 of the top 15 pesticides used on conventional US cotton crops are "possible" to "known" human carcinogens). The shift to ethical production practices in the clothing industry has been undeniably important for a long time making the market ripe for a positive change. Consumers are starting to demand better.

What is Ethical Fashion?

Ethical fashion is that which is produced using: fairly-paid and fairly-treated adult workers; sustainable fabrics and materials like organic cotton, hemp, bamboo, and reclaimed or recycled materials; low-impact fiber-reactive dyes or vegetable dyes; respect for a healthy environment and/or product for the farmer, the assembler, and the wearer of the clothing.

Why Ethical Fashion?

We are all responsible for how our own lifestyles affect the environment. Simple measures can be taken to achieve big changes by simply switching our buying patterns to include products made of low impact materials. Positive pressure on businesses who have yet to volutarily clean up their acts is very easily applied by simply choosing not to spend money on their products, and helping - little by little - to grow the businesses who have made an explicit commitment to responsible business practice.

Why Now?

The wonderful thing about the booming ethical fashion industry is the huge variety of designs, colours, cuts, fabrics and sizes now available. Long stigmatized as cousin to the burlap sack, the ethical offerings today are design-oriented. Designers with heart are creating beautiful, sexy, edgy, classic, current, imaginative, and, yes, flattering pieces - ethics will simply not be compromised and thankfully neither will the look and feel of their work. Reducing our footprint can be done without making any sacrifices.

One of the main driving forces of the ethical fashion boom is public awareness. Thanks to expos?on large manufacturers, the fact that sweatshop labour is used for the overwhelming majority of production can no longer be ignored. The power of boycotting has been demonstrated, as has the power of voting with our dollars to support good practice. Thanks to accessible work like "An Inconvenient Truth", the lay person is no longer free to assuage their environmental guilt with the denial of the existence of climate change. Thanks to alternative medical practitioners, who deal with cause instead of just symptom, we're learning that we can build health by surrounding ourselves with and consuming healthy things.

Consumers are growing weary of the quantity without quality mentality. Most designers with an ethical bent to their art, work in small batches, producing high quality goods with exceptional fabrics. Consumers are, in growing numbers, appreciating the right to vote with their dollars; and are exercising it to support expansion of the sustainable textile industry, small farmers and farm co-operatives. We're all looking for ways to reduce our environmental impact, increase our social contribution, ease our consciences, hold on to some creature comforts, and continue celebrating art in all its forms.

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Source: http://www.articlemonk.com/Article/Ethical-Fashion---What--Why-and-Why-Now-/10703
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The Battle for the Mind of Todays Youth-One Christians Perspective

It's difficult to be the Christian parent of a teen these days. The struggle to raise them to become a decent, moral adult is so hard that about the only thing more difficult is actually being a teen.

There is a definite war going on to influence the thoughts and attitudes of today's youth. The battlefields are many; clothing, music, television and movies are just the beginning.

The movies are the worst. The majority of movies being produced today are rated "R" for restricted. Movies that could have some merit are peppered with profanity and sexually explicit scenes to crank the rating up to "R". It is easy for teens to get access to these movies through cable or satellite television or on DVDs. Older teens can walk into the theaters and see them.

Pay attention to the movies with the PG-13 ratings which are targeted to teen viewers. Many have demonic themes with the screens filled with ghosts, demonic beings, or witchcraft, all designed to entice the teen to watch for the thrill of the scare. Little do they know that those nightmarish scenes live on in their minds long after the movie has ended.

Then there is Harry Potter which has produced an entire industry of books, movies, games, clothing and whatever. Did you let your kids read the Harry Potter books? Some parents did, thinking "Well, at least they are reading." Are you kidding me? Do you know what the Bible says about witchcraft? Exodus 22:18 NIV says "Do not allow a sorceress to live." Well, that sounds pretty serious.

Television is equally bad. Casual sex is everywhere, even in hamburger commercials. The occult is portrayed as fun and powerful. Currently there are Mediums and Ghost Whisperers portrayed plus shows with real people claiming to converse with the dead. Deuteronomy 18:10-12 NIV says "Let no one be found among you who sacrifices his son or daughter in the fire, who practices divination or sorcery, interprets omens, engages in witchcraft, or casts spells, or who is a medium or spiritist or who consults the dead. Anyone who does these things is detestable to the LORD...."

So, what is a parent to do? Pray hard, talk to your teens about what they are seeing and discuss the good and bad points. Parents can put controls on their own televisions to prohibit certain ratings from being displayed.

Encourage your teen to attend Christian youth groups so that they have associates who understand the restrictions put on them and to have peer pressure work in your favor.

Music is another major battlefield with much of secular music promoting sex, violence, drugs and even suicide. Fortunately there are many Christian bands and artists available in popular music styles but with Christian themes. Guide your teen in that direction. Review the CDs that they listen to and don't forget to check the content on their iPods.

The fashion designers have made it appear that our daughters are leaving home to work the "oldest profession" instead of walk to school. Finding modest apparel is not easy. If your teen's shirt must say something, make sure that the message speaks life. You may have a difficult time finding stylish clothing that makes a bold Christian statement that your teens will love in your local stores. Check online Christian clothing companies, you will be pleasantly surprised with the selections available at affordable prices.

Good luck, pray hard, and stay involved in your teen's life. You both will survive these few years.

When looking for positive alternatives, Bethany Chastain recommends the awesome online ministry at C28. Its not your typical religious clothing, as C28 offers an alternative and offers teens a way to share their faith with Christian t-shirts, music, or Jewelry as great way to start a conversation!

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Source: http://www.articlemonk.com/Article/The-Battle-for-the-Mind-of-Today-s-Youth-One-Christian-s-Perspective/16533
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