The Fashion Industry

The fashion industry has introduced many new ethical products after being under pressure to transform itself due to horrifying sweatshop conditions. "In April last year, more than 1,000 garment workers were killed when the Rana Plaza factory in Bangladesh collapsed". Many multi-million dollar companies may hire outside workers known as "third parties" to make products for them but never evaluate the work conditions of those employees. They will use money to try to hide any issues going on inside the company so no one will know the truth. After the collapse in Bangladesh the Accord Alliance was formed to help set new guidelines for building safety. "The Ethical Fashion Initiative claims to connect skilled artisans in the developing world to some of the top fashion designers in the world like Stella McCartney and Vivienne Westwood." More steps are being taken to ensure the retail and design division of fashion is being ethically responsible. Chapter 4 describes the differences between legality and ethics, management's role in setting ethical standards, and how US companies can influence ethical and social responsibility in global markets. In the US many companies use outsourcing to help produce their goods cheaper, in this case its fashion. Because those companies were not maintaining their third-party at the Rana Plaza disaster struck. We could influence other areas of the world to use ethics codes while working to prevent more accidents.

I feel that steps do need to be taken to insure the safety of workers not only her in the US but in other countries we do business with. Once those workers are creating products for companies here in the US, the company because responsible for the workers no matter what happens to them. I think there needs to be an ethics-code that no matter where you are in the world it will be the bare minimum to help protect workers. This will show that all products came from a safe environment and that companies aren't abusing their workers.

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