How Ethical Fashion Empowers Women
Happy International Women’s Day!
In honor of this important day, we’re sharing our thoughts on how ethical fashion empowers women around the globe. Most of us don’t give much thought to our fashion choices beyond whether a garment fits our style, budget, and needs. But behind every piece of clothing in our closet, there’s a story that begins with the workers who made it.
Fashion is one of the most powerful industries in the world. It’s a form of self-expression, it’s political, and it has a huge impact on global economies. But beneath the glamour of the runways and the dopamine that hits when a package lands on our doorstep, the reality of the fashion industry is extremely dark. Millions of garment workers – most of them women – are trapped in relentless cycles of exploitation.
The rise of fast fashion has led to unimaginable labor abuse. Fewer than 2% of the 75 million factory workers worldwide earn a living wage, and many endure harassment, wage theft, and inhumane working conditions just to survive. However, ethical fashion offers a solution that prioritizes the safety and well-being of all women, from the garment workers who make our clothes to the consumers who choose to shop consciously.
A System that Exploits Women
Within the fashion industry, 80% of garment workers are women, primarily between the ages of 18 and 35. Fast fashion brands rely on cheap labor in developing countries, where women often earn as little as $3 per day. In many factories, these workers endure grueling shifts – regularly 14-16 hours per day – just to meet unrealistic production targets. During peak production seasons, factory workers are regularly forced to work overtime or be dismissed. To make things even worse, many factories manipulate time sheets to avoid paying overtime wages and circumvent International Labor Organization conventions.
Women are disproportionately affected by punishing labor demands because they’re also often responsible for managing their households. The demands of the factory combined with the pressures of home life are more than one person could – or should – ever have to handle. Beyond low wages, women in the garment industry also face:
- Unsafe work environments: Many factories lack proper ventilation, fire exits, and safety protocols. Tragedies like the Rana Plaza collapse in 2013, which killed over 1,100 garment workers in Bangladesh, highlight the dangers these women face every time they go to work.
- Workplace harassment: verbal abuse, intimidation, and even sexual harassment are widespread in garment factories, where women have few avenues for recourse and no protection.
- Lack of job security: Many fast fashion brands rely on temporary contracts, which means women can be fired for any reason. They can be dismissed without warning for trying to unionize or demand better wages.
This exploitative system continues because fast fashion prioritizes profit over people, cutting costs wherever possible to produce cheap clothing at a rapid pace. But ethical fashion brands disrupt the system by putting women’s well-being first.
Fair Wages and Safe Working Conditions
Ethical fashion ensures that garment workers receive fair wages and work in safe environments. When women earn a living wage, they gain the financial independence they need to support their households, send their children to school, and invest in their futures.
At Passion Lilie, for example, we work with artisans and manufacturers who adhere to Fair Trade principles, guaranteeing fair wages and ethical work environments. Our approach is more than just about improving individual lives; we’re trying to shift the entire industry toward justice and equity.
How Fair Wages Empower Women
A living wage offers more than survival; it gives women opportunities for a better life. When women earn fair wages, they can:
- Break free from poverty: Instead of living paycheck to paycheck, they can save money, invest in their children’s education, and plan for the future.
- Gain economic independence: Women who are financially independent have greater control over their lives, reducing their vulnerability to domestic violence and other forms of control and oppression.
- Become community leaders: Financial stability + working reasonable hours gives women space to advocate for themselves and others, through avenues like workplace unions, community organizing, or entrepreneurial ventures (like our tailor training program).
Beyond wages, ethical fashion brands also prioritize safe working conditions. This means well-ventilated spaces, fire safety measures, reasonable working hours, and protections against harassment. When women feel safe at work, they can focus on their craft without fear.
Breaking the cycle of exploitation
While fast fashion traps women in a system that offers little to no upward mobility, ethical fashion brands invest in long-term success by providing skills training and education.
Many ethical brands offer programs that teach women advanced sewing techniques, leadership skills, and financial literacy. These initiatives don’t just provide jobs – they create careers. Women gain valuable skills that open doors to higher-paying roles and leadership positions.
For example, some fair trade cooperatives train women to become quality control specialists, designers, or business owners, giving them the tools they need to move beyond factory work. Investing in their skills helps break generational cycles of poverty and exploitation so that women can build sustainable futures for themselves and their children.
Women as ethical fashion entrepreneurs
The ethical fashion movement has been paved by and for women. Many women-led ethical fashion brands are committed to uplifting other women through fair trade, sustainable practices, and community-building efforts.
From artisans in India crafting handwoven textiles to designers in the U.S. advocating for sustainable production, women are at the forefront of reshaping the fashion industry. When you support a women-owned ethical fashion brand, you’re helping to build a system that prioritizes fairness, sustainability, and gender equality.
Women Supporting Women
The women who create our clothing play a critical role in ethical fashion, but conscious consumers complete the cycle of empowerment – we couldn’t do it without you. Each purchase is powerful: you’re either supporting fair wages and sustainability or contributing to exploitation. When women choose to buy from ethical brands, we:
- Create demand for fair trade and sustainable practices, which means more brands will prioritize fair wages and safe working conditions.
- Reduce support for exploitative fast fashion by redirecting money away from brands that harm women
- Set an example for future generations, teaching young people the value of conscious consumerism.
Conscious consumerism isn’t about perfection, it’s about making mindful choices. Whether we’re choosing fair trade clothing, shopping secondhand, or simply reducing unnecessary purchases, every step helps shift the fashion industry in a more ethical direction.
Final Thoughts
At Passion Lilie, we’re proud to be part of the ethical fashion movement, working with skilled artisans who are paid fairly and treated with respect. We believe fashion should always be a force for good, uplifting women around the world.
By choosing ethical fashion, you’re making a difference both in your wardrobe and in the lives of women everywhere.
Sources:
https://fashionunited.com/statistics/global-fashion-industry-statistics
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