Introduction: Many people living in Western societies are completely dumbfounded when it comes to knowing where their clothes are actually from or who made their clothes. People aren't aware of things like the unregulated sweatshops in Bangladesh and other foreign countries. Many people often forget where their clothes are actually coming from when they see a cheap price tag. Third world countries are having their sweatshop workers being exploited all to fulfill the needs for cheap fashion for Americans and Europeans. Not only does the fast fashion industry have an significant impact on our social world, it also has great effect on the ecological world as well.
Theoretical Insight
In the documentary, The True Cost, directed by Andrew Morgan …show more content…
and other Western societies. People are often always comparing the price of one brand to another, and always on the look out for the best deals. What many fail to understand is that the manufacturer of these goods have most if not all their employees working in hellish conditions. Within many western societies, everyone always wants to be in with the hot new trend. Media has a huge role in depicting how the United States look like to other societies. With the usage of social media and other news network, the United States can be seen as one of the leading trendsetter in the world. Many other countries look up to us as the model of the “new world”. Aside from the media highlighting the United States fashion trends, it also plays a huge part in painting us like big money conglomerates who gives no mind in the world other than to get something for a cheap price. The United States can be an prime example of how Simmel’s idea of class relation can be seen in the real world. For example, United States (the upper class) can be shown by the media as it is distancing itself from everyone else (the lower class) in the …show more content…
Like Livia Firth said in the film, “will [you] wear it next year, or in ten years time?” The answer to these questions will probably be no. So why do people keep buying clothes that they don’t need or will not wear next year? It’s honestly not that difficult - people buy things that they don’t need for the simple reason of it being cheap. They think that because their favorite brand is having a 50% off sale, they should take advantage of what is being offered. What many people fail to see is that companies like to have things at a discounted price so that the new season of clothes will come in. Thus causing more usage of natural resources being used for these new items, and the over-filling of landfills with the items that weren’t able to sell. In addition to the over abundance of landfill waste, the usage of cotton can may also have a negative effect on the human body. “Cotton production is now responsible for 18% of worldwide pesticide use and 25% of total insecticide use” (True Cost, 2). Not only is it harmful for the workers who are constantly being dealt with this material, it may so be transferred onto the clothes that people wear and get into the bloodstreams. Some steps that societies can take to help with these environmental issues is to become more mindful of what is truly at cost when purchasing discounted items. For example,
Theoretical Insight
In the documentary, The True Cost, directed by Andrew Morgan …show more content…
and other Western societies. People are often always comparing the price of one brand to another, and always on the look out for the best deals. What many fail to understand is that the manufacturer of these goods have most if not all their employees working in hellish conditions. Within many western societies, everyone always wants to be in with the hot new trend. Media has a huge role in depicting how the United States look like to other societies. With the usage of social media and other news network, the United States can be seen as one of the leading trendsetter in the world. Many other countries look up to us as the model of the “new world”. Aside from the media highlighting the United States fashion trends, it also plays a huge part in painting us like big money conglomerates who gives no mind in the world other than to get something for a cheap price. The United States can be an prime example of how Simmel’s idea of class relation can be seen in the real world. For example, United States (the upper class) can be shown by the media as it is distancing itself from everyone else (the lower class) in the …show more content…
Like Livia Firth said in the film, “will [you] wear it next year, or in ten years time?” The answer to these questions will probably be no. So why do people keep buying clothes that they don’t need or will not wear next year? It’s honestly not that difficult - people buy things that they don’t need for the simple reason of it being cheap. They think that because their favorite brand is having a 50% off sale, they should take advantage of what is being offered. What many people fail to see is that companies like to have things at a discounted price so that the new season of clothes will come in. Thus causing more usage of natural resources being used for these new items, and the over-filling of landfills with the items that weren’t able to sell. In addition to the over abundance of landfill waste, the usage of cotton can may also have a negative effect on the human body. “Cotton production is now responsible for 18% of worldwide pesticide use and 25% of total insecticide use” (True Cost, 2). Not only is it harmful for the workers who are constantly being dealt with this material, it may so be transferred onto the clothes that people wear and get into the bloodstreams. Some steps that societies can take to help with these environmental issues is to become more mindful of what is truly at cost when purchasing discounted items. For example,