The Beauty of Fashion

Funny isn't it?

Some of us would die for fashion while some others are killed  because of it...

For those of you who were directed through the #HKFashionBloggers Facebook page, I do apologise for my dark sense of humour. However, what I can't apologise for is the disgust I have for the violators of human rights and for the people who practise animal cruelty.

For those who just happened to pass by, let me briefly explain the above. I posted an image of a typical fashion editorial (below) with the same title as this post on a Facebook group for Hong Kong fashion bloggers. My little trick was simply a demonstration of the superficial glamour consumers usually see in fashion. On the flip side however, many suffer because of our appetite for better and faster fashion.

Frida Gustavsson by Patrick Demarchelier for Vogue Russia October 2012

I recently read an article on the Sydney Morning Herald noting ASOS' growth with the help of Australian shoppers. According to the report, a purchase is made on the ASOS website every 6 seconds. While I'm glad that my favourite online retailer is doing better than usual, it saddens me to hear the recent news of a deadly collapse of a garment sweatshop in Bangladesh.

With many fashion companies now shifting their factories to locations cheaper than China, regulations for ensuring human rights are still being somewhat ignored. More than 380 have died in this tragedy and despite being alerted that cracks were present the day before, workers were still forced to continue working.

An oral statement saying that workers are ensured protection is all one hears but can never be verified because it lacks transparency. A string of Australian companies like Kmart, Target, Cotton On and the two international brands implicated in the disaster Benetton and Mango all produce in Bangladesh. However, when approached by reporters to speak on camera, none were willing to disclose how safety conditions are met. Companies should come forward and freely explain every part of their supply chain if they really live by their words. It's only after changing this attitude that consumers like yourself can be guaranteed a piece of clothing that hasn't been sacrificed by human slavery.

What's you take on this?