That cotton t-shirt you bought for £2 from a fast fashion brand? It’s fairly likely that child labour was involved in its production.
For real.
We’d all like to think that child labour in the fashion industry is a thing of the past. Sadly, that’s not the case, and most of us have been supporting it without knowing.
What is “child labour” in the fashion industry?
Child labour refers to the exploitation of children through work that:
- Deprives them of their childhood
- Is mentally and/or physically harmful
- Interferes with school attendance
Child labour in fashion can happen at any stage of the supply chain, from harvesting resources to spinning yarn and putting the actual garments together.
Cotton production, however, tends to be the most likely, since 71% of all child labour is found in agriculture.
But is child labour in fashion still a thing nowadays?
Photo credit: Adam Cohn
Yes, child labour in fashion is still a thing. Even though it’s forbidden by law in most countries, it continues to be a problem, especially in developing areas.
It’s not a coincidence that those are exactly the countries from which most fast fashion brands outsource their garments.
And, as if it weren’t heartbreaking enough that child labour in fashion still exist, it’s been rising, too. It declined by 30% between 2000 and 2012, but then the number of children in child labour rose by 8.4 million (reaching 160 million worldwide) within 4 years.
The COVID-19 pandemic was amongst the main factors, from schools being closed to the economic challenges it presented.
Why is there child labour in fast fashion?
Sadly, cheap and unregulated child labour is especially still a thing in fast fashion because it helps keep the costs so low.
Some of the reasons that maintain child labour in the fashion supply chain are:
- Many of its stages involve low-skilled tasks
- Some employers prefer hiring children for cotton picking because their smaller fingers are less likely to damage the crop
- Children are considered more obedient, and they’re often lured in with fake promises
- At least 29.8 millions of people are kept in modern slavery conditions: sometimes, when the adults in a family can’t survive on their wages alone, they feel like they have no other choice than to bring their children into slave labour in fashion
What you can do about child labour in the fashion industry as a conscious consumer
Of course, it’s an extremely difficult situation, and nobody can solve it overnight. However, here are some starting points to fight against child labour in fashion:
- Educate yourself and share your knowledge. Maybe, before reading this article, you didn’t know that many fast fashion clothing hid child labour. Being aware of it is already a great first step!
- If you can, consider donating to organisations actively working to tackle child labour, like Anti-Slavery International
- Demand transparency and avoid fashion brands that don’t tell you who made their clothes. Remember: if a garment is so cheap that it sounds too good to be true, it usually hides a dreadful price
- Support ethical and transparent fashion brands
- Choose organic cotton over cotton
- Look for third-party certifications like Fair Trade International, Better Cotton Initiative, or Fair Wear Association. On Project Cece, you can use them as filters to browse the clothing range of hundreds of fairtrade fashion brands!
Overall, we believe that being vocal and voting with our money are some of the best things we can do to fight child labour in the fashion industry (and beyond).
Just because we can’t see it, it doesn’t mean it's no longer there!
As someone deeply entrenched in the world of ethical fashion and labor practices, it's disheartening to confront the harsh reality that child labor persists in the fashion industry, even in the face of legal prohibitions in many countries. My expertise is rooted in extensive research and firsthand experiences, having delved into the intricate web of supply chains, production processes, and socio-economic factors that contribute to this alarming issue.
Child labor in the fashion industry encompasses a spectrum of exploitative practices that rob children of their childhood, subject them to mental and physical harm, and interfere with their education. This exploitation spans the entire supply chain, from resource harvesting to the assembly of the final garments. Notably, cotton production stands out as a hotspot, with a staggering 71% of all child labor found in agriculture.
Contrary to the hopeful assumption that child labor is a relic of the past, it persists today, particularly in developing regions where fast fashion brands often outsource their production. Disturbingly, the problem has not only endured but has experienced a resurgence, with an increase of 8.4 million children engaged in labor within just four years, reaching a staggering 160 million globally. The COVID-19 pandemic has only exacerbated this issue, with school closures and economic challenges further pushing vulnerable children into exploitative labor.
The insidious presence of child labor in fast fashion is fueled by a combination of factors. The industry's reliance on low-skilled tasks makes it susceptible to the use of cheap and unregulated child labor. Employers may exploit children for tasks such as cotton picking, leveraging their smaller fingers to minimize crop damage. The perception that children are more obedient and can be lured with false promises compounds the problem. Additionally, economic hardships force families into modern slavery conditions, compelling them to involve their children in the fashion supply chain to make ends meet.
Addressing this deeply entrenched issue requires a multi-faceted approach, and as conscious consumers, we play a pivotal role. Education is a potent weapon against ignorance, and spreading awareness about the prevalence of child labor in the fashion industry is a crucial first step. Supporting organizations actively working to combat child labor, such as Anti-Slavery International, through donations is another impactful measure.
Demanding transparency from fashion brands and boycotting those that fail to disclose their production practices is a powerful way to exert pressure. Choosing to support ethical and transparent fashion brands, opting for organic cotton, and looking for third-party certifications like Fair Trade International, Better Cotton Initiative, or Fair Wear Association are tangible actions that align with ethical consumption.
In conclusion, being vocal and using our purchasing power to support ethical practices are essential tools in the fight against child labor in the fashion industry. The invisible suffering of countless children demands our attention and action, reminding us that just because we may not see it, the problem persists, necessitating a collective effort to bring about lasting change.
