| United Kingdom and other European countries, | | | | many companies that do not produce ethically |
| along with the United States and Canada, have | | | | responsible clothing. Ethically responsible clothing, in |
| adopted a totally new manufacturing regimen. | | | | its true meanings, is the production of a garment |
| Instead of encouraging a local production of | | | | through legal means. This also means that the |
| goods, they prefer setting up manufacturing | | | | workers involved in the manufacturing process |
| plants in the Asian countries. The biggest | | | | are paid well and their conditions conform to the |
| advantage in an overseas production is the great | | | | international labour laws. |
| cuts in production costs. The average cost of a | | | | Unfortunately, many countries still conceal the |
| shirt produced in Vietnam is less than a Pound | | | | standard of living of their labourers. They hide |
| Sterling. The same shirt, if manufactured in the | | | | these facts because they are afraid of an |
| UK, will cost at least five Pound Sterling. The huge | | | | international backlash if facts are revealed. Many |
| difference in production costs and cheap labour | | | | customers in the UK and other countries are not |
| has encouraged garments manufactures and | | | | aware of this phenomenon. There is a possibility |
| other companies to setup their production houses | | | | that the shirt you are wearing is made in a |
| in Asia. | | | | country with no labour laws. There is also a |
| These companies are benefiting from this trend | | | | possibility that most of your wardrobe is made by |
| as they can earn a lot of profits at cheaper | | | | labourers who do not get enough money to feed |
| production costs. Interestingly, they manufacture | | | | their children. |
| these garments at lower costs but sell them at | | | | If you are confused about this phenomenon and |
| rates compatible for the UK market. There also | | | | want to know more about ethically produced |
| have been some instances where these | | | | clothing, you should follow these tips:o Try buying |
| companies have violated human rights in their | | | | clothing from famous brand names. Although |
| countries of production. They do not pay decent | | | | these companies have production centres in Asia, |
| wages to the foreign workers. Some even do not | | | | they have improved the labour situation and |
| pay them anything and use them as slave labours. | | | | practices. They probably offer the best |
| When the news of these malpractices reached | | | | compensation to local people.o Additionally, you |
| the western media, it resulted in a massive | | | | can search the companies' websites and look for |
| brouhaha and public outcry. | | | | their production facilities. Responsible companies |
| Some companies had to shut down their | | | | will give all the details of their processes. If you |
| production plants as they were unable to face the | | | | still have doubts, do not buy a product from |
| wrath of British public. Others, however, improved | | | | these companies.o You can read the reports |
| their production style and started paying foreign | | | | issued by human rights organizations. These |
| workers a handsome amount of wages. | | | | reports give exact details of every company that |
| Despite all these improvements, there are still | | | | employs Asian labour for its production. |