Does transparency matter in fashion? We think so.

The rise in fast fashion has brought about an interesting change in consumer shopping habits. While the roots of fast fashion can be traced back to the early 1990s, the late 2010s and 2020s produced the ultra-fast fashion boom that we know now – the expectation of weekly micro-seasons and thousands of new clothing options per day. We’ve been trained to expect trendy styles at extremely low prices arriving at our doorsteps within two days.

The fashion industry is producing more than 100 billion garments per year, and consumers are buying an average of 53 new garments per person, per year. This is a staggering increase from just 25 years ago, when we bought roughly 50% fewer garments. Clothing needs haven’t changed, but consumption has – largely due to social media’s constant urging for more, more, more.

What we’ve lost, in these past few decades, is transparency. We no longer have any idea about where our clothes are made, by whom, and in what conditions. We no longer think about the hands that stitched the seams or applied the sequins. In our rush to add to cart, we’re not checking fabric content. If it’s buttery soft or perfect to throw-on-and-go, we’re not thinking of microplastics, toxic chemicals, or the human hands that sewed each seam.

At Passion Lilie, we believe transparency is the key to changing the fashion industry. Ending child labor and slave labor, harassment, and dangerous working conditions begins with education and disclosure. Redesigning the fashion industry to improve the environment rather than destroy it requires an understanding of how companies are operating, and empowering consumers to make better shopping choices.

What does transparency in fashion actually mean?

Transparency means brands openly share:

• Where garments are made
• Who makes them
• How workers are paid
• What materials are used
• The environmental footprint behind production
• Business challenges and growth

While most fashion brands choose to keep this information locked away, ethical fashion brands will proudly share it.

You can read Passion Lilie’s transparency report here, find the answers on our website, or reach out to us with any questions. We are always happy to overshare.

Why does the fashion industry avoid transparency?

The modern fashion industry has avoided transparency like the plague. Complex global supply chains make it easy for fashion brands to conceal any number of unethical practices. By keeping their business methods behind the curtain, they’re able to hide:

• Low wages
• Unsafe factory conditions
• Environmental damage
• Overproduction and waste
• Exploitative sourcing

If consumers don’t know – if they aren’t looking for answers – brands have no incentive to change. We believe consumers deserve to know more about where their goods come from, and we’re proud to see more and more shoppers asking the hard questions.

Transparency builds trust, not just sales

In our French Quarter shop and our pop-up markets around New Orleans, we keep hearing the same thing – shoppers are tired of vague claims like “ethically made,” “sustainably sourced,” and “conscious collection.” These are now easily recognizable as greenwashing, and consumers are demanding receipts.

At Passion Lilie, we publish detailed Impact Reports every year so customers can see exactly:

• How artisans are paid
• What certifications we use
• How our production impacts the planet
• Where we’re growing and where we still need work

Transparency ensures the brands you love are taking action and being held accountable. We’re sharing this so that you know you can (and should) demand transparency and accountability of any brand you support.

Transparency supports workers

When brands are forced to reveal their factory information and how they compensate their workers, exploitation becomes harder to hide. Transparency helps:

• Ensure living wages
• Protect safe working environments
• Empower artisans (especially women)
• Create long-term economic stability
• Reduce reliance on sweatshop labor

Being open and honest about labor practices protects the most vulnerable members of our society.

Transparency is key to environmental accountability

It’s no secret that our shopping choices impact the environment. But we think the extent of it is often swept under the rug. According to Business Insider, fashion production comprises 10% of total global carbon emissions (as much as the emissions generated by the entire European Union). The industry dries up water sources and pollutes rivers and streams, while 85% of all textiles go to dumps each year. Even washing clothes releases an estimated 500,000 tons of microfibers into the ocean each year, the equivalent of 50 billion plastic bottles.

Shoppers have to KNOW the scope of this disaster to care about it – and that’s why transparency is critical. Transparency pushes brands to measure and report:

• Carbon emissions
• Water usage
• Dye processes
• Waste generation
• Packaging impact
• Shipping footprint

Our partner factory in India is now carbon neutral and implementing digital meters to track energy and water use garment by garment. We’re proud of the strides we’re making, and we would love to see other brands – especially bigger brands with wider reach – do the same.

Transparency hands consumers more power

Consumers are flying blind when brands withhold their practices. With greater transparency, shoppers can align their shopping with their values. Transparency empowers you to vote for fair wages, responsible production, and businesses that prioritizes people over profit. It turns fashion from passive consumption into activism.

For us, transparency is non-negotiable.

As a Fair Trade brand, transparency is integrated into every decision we make. We know our artisan partners in India, and we communicate and visit with them regularly. We proudly disclose our materials, our footprint, and our sourcing. We openly discuss our challenges, like tariffs and economic uncertainty. We show our work in our annual report.

Transparency is how we hold brands accountable and give consumers the power to make informed choices.

The future of fashion is transparent

Around the globe (though decidedly less so in the U.S.) regulations are increasing. Consumer habits are shifting, and sustainability is becoming more mainstream. We believe brands that freely share their business practices will earn trust and loyalty, while brands that hide will lose credibility.

Transparency is the future of sustainable fashion, and we can’t wait to see how it changes the world.

Sources:

https://pirg.org/articles/how-many-clothes-are-too-many/

https://earth.org/fast-fashions-detrimental-effect-on-the-environment/