ETHICAL CHIC
Bangladesh labels should have perhaps been cause for questions.
Bangladeshi garment workers. amongst the lowest paid in the world. can expect to take home the equivalent of just £7.40 per month. a minimum wage which hasn‘t been altered for 12 years. A campaign by the organisation Labour Behind the Label is currently calling for it to be increased to £25.76 a month -- the minimum monthly cost of living there is generally estimated at £22. In this context. the idea of 'good value’ clothing is certainly thrown into relief.
There are more superfluous concerns for
fashion as an institution. too. Plagiarism of
ideas is rife within the style industry and now that catwalk looks can be copied at ever- incrcasing speed. even the cheapest of clothing now bears the stamp of designers' avant-garde imaginings — couture house (‘hloe recently sued Kookai for copying the design of a £1086 Silverado bag.
Historically. fashion has always offered a highly accessible way of engaging with visual culture. but the ‘cheap chic~ phenomenon means that individualism is seeping out of the style silhouette. In an era of mass-produced design. the fashion playground of colours. fabrics and shapes is now saturated with similarity.
Interestingly. as consumer pressure groups force design houses to consider ethics. \ 'e may see high street fashion at least flirt with ecologically sound style. which could slow down trend turnover and encourage us all to experiment again. Topshop and Marks &
Fashionistas with a conscience are increasingly customising, recycling and re-using their own clothes and accessories
16 THE LIST 18 .Jan 1 lot) 25%)]
Shoelaces by Diana Kiernander
THE ‘CHEAP CHIC' PHENOMENON MEANS INDIVIDUALISM IS GOING OUT OF FASHION
Spencer have both recently launched fair trade
lines. and increased consumer demand for fair trade fabrics will push up production costs for
shops. Prices may soar. but value can only truly be measured by a collective vision that treats everyone. from garment workers to style slaves. with respect.
www.labourbehindthelabel.org has a full breakdown on levels of commitment to living wages of each of the high street members of the Ethical Trade Initiative. Read the report at www.waronwant.org.
WHERE TO GET THE BEST ETHICAL VALUE
VINTAGE
Armstrong’s, 88 Grassmarket, Edinburgh 0131 220 5557 Tilt:- t]!’ilt‘liild(l(l‘, o‘ i'(lilll)tll(_l". ‘.|lll£l§l(} (tau l)(?' when}. but Is ‘.'.(:-Il sort" a good (iay's oxplourigi.
Elaine’s Second-Hand Shops, 55 St Stephen’s Street, Edinburgh 0131 225 5783 Ar: mi :r’os;s;.‘."o <::>Iit><:tiori (Ti (ltléiral‘y seconds. Soma- pieces ::a."- stretch the budget but rummage through to i'f‘ili'ltfl)(ft;’.10:128. Herman Brown, 151 West Port, Edinburgh 0131 228 2589 Noting; s; (3342’ :>\.'-::-.':>r|::<>:i l‘-TE"(‘:. aw: helpful. iliIUftlSitXl staff make ,ou ‘.'.'a"l
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Mr Ben's, King‘s Court, King Street, Glasgow 0141 55319360liosli; of the lifiu'iis; £i".(i 1080:; T()()l?‘ ia'oo a.’;)u"<l this; own it .1'lf;i{l(3ll£l‘.’()ll. ~.'.'l‘.<>ro l)(3ff3lf$f€?ll<i(?
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The Glory Hole, 39—41 Ruthven Lane, West End, Glasgow. 0141 357 5662 /\t)§;<>.til<> Imast altos! of a second ‘iar‘o immune}. '.'.I'.". a .20" stocked ran‘ix::. o‘ "oaso'iah', :vmxi shown-s. Watermelon, 603 Great Western Road, Glasgow 0141 334 3900 A .'.::i<;~ Li'lél‘, o" chant; shop cast oils and mo“. ‘.1l‘.i£lt_l(? (38A a“. l)ll§l{l(?i i)" (T08.
HIGH STREET
Fair trade
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Individual/recycled Che Camille, 143 Oxford Street, Glasgow, www.checamille.com li‘-<lr.'i(lual. liél!‘.(ll“.£l(l(l’. tafioroti collections; lronv yoairg; Scottzsi‘. designers. \"v’attzl‘. tho ‘.'~.'(>l)s;ito for Clothing; S.'.'apovonzogs out)“, one brings; a bag; of ;ivr.'.'ant(2<i garments. Cloud Cuckoo Land @Mono, Kings Court, Glasgow, 0141 553 2400 Glasgow {Jasotl (trusts; \l(2!1'i‘,' Bolt 3) Samoa Ag;ar‘:.o.. oflor \.'.'lr.'ns;'(:ai tiarttir'iaoo protkicfs; frond -.<;;;ar‘
Godiva, 9 West Port, Edinburgh, www.godivaboutique. co.uk (:lif3l()lY‘-IS(}(1. rr:;:,<:=a::':l. ‘. 'l'.£1{l€3 an.) I‘éif‘il'llzltli‘x
Miso Funky Market, Hillhead Library, Glasgow www.misofunky.com :f' '~,o:.“.<;- ll‘::§§§(f(l 2M:- l)! tYiOllilEI‘, (it;lt$§)1).‘. far. you (:a': stall pick iii; a Page a:;:;orfrit<:-r‘.2 o‘ ?!;tr‘.tl.’"£i(l<‘: acct-six)! (if; or: tho ‘.'.'(:'l:s".-rr
Urban Renewal is at Urban Outfitters, 157 Buchanan Street, Glasgow (0141 248 9203)
DO IT YOURSELF
Pub craft groups aw cropping; til) <>‘.’<:-"\.*.'.z'i<>r<:~ £il‘(l it's. a gmal ‘.'.a:. to «out: your lta'iils; has; l)()f$i-f$ll‘.()Kll‘tl l:a.". Chock oat l':l 'itxxoii's; CI". K'Hlt, at .'.“.'.“.'..t:i!‘.£632,112: or :::>"-ta(7t K' Yaw}; Kmllll‘ztl Boa-111.4.» 2r: (Ziasgiosx (ii-1'2 52.13
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ONLINE
Clerk & Teller www.clerkandteller. com (kettle-"Ian's; outfitter .‘t‘:"l..' "g; ii‘to orga'uc '.'.’at<:-r:;.
Edun www.edun.ie Hig'i tango ‘a:;.":o'i ttoiltxf'otn; ariti'omaii 0'. Make l’oumt‘. ll'slot“, an: (imagined :2, lio'to's; ‘(E Al Hanson Petit Pea www.petit- pea.co.uk Mil-.iaual', (Itlf§i.).’?lf‘~(}il. ;:';tar‘..: trat)‘, (TI()'."(3§§ t). ,oaria (Easting dosig'iovs. (ioarav‘hc-mi "of to have: two.“ 'i‘azizt- w
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