Informed Consumption in Contemporary Fashion: When Ethics Demand Looking Beyond the Price Tag
The global fashion industry has become one of the most influential economic sectors of the twenty‑first century, but also one of the most problematic in terms of social justice and human rights. Available data from international organizations reveal a production structure sustained largely by the vulnerability of millions of people. UNICEF estimates that 160 million children are currently engaged in child labor, a figure that represents the most significant setback in two decades. A considerable proportion of these minors participate in activities linked to the textile chain: cotton cultivation, spinning processes, artisanal manufacturing, and finishing tasks that require manual precision. The International Labour Organization (ILO) further warns that one in ten children worldwide works in conditions that compromise their health, education, and overall development, underscoring the structural depth of the issue.
The situation of women within the industry is no less alarming. According to the Georgetown Journal of Gender and the Law (2024), between 80% and 85% of the 60 million garment workers are women, amounting to roughly 48 million female workers. Most face insufficient wages, exhausting workdays, and labor environments marked by precarity and gender‑based violence. Only 2% of these women earn a wage that meets their basic needs—a figure that exposes the stark asymmetry between the economic value generated by the industry and the compensation received by those who sustain it. The United Nations has also documented that women in labor‑intensive manufacturing sectors—including fashion—are disproportionately exposed to exploitative practices due to informality, lack of social protection, and the absence of effective reporting mechanisms.
Adding to this panorama is the persistence of forced labor. Joint estimates from the ILO and the International Organization for Migration (IOM) indicate that 25 million people worldwide live under conditions of forced labor. Fashion—particularly in its fast‑paced, low‑cost production model—ranks among the sectors at highest risk for coercive practices. These figures do not merely describe a systemic problem; they reveal a value chain that, in many cases, is upheld through the systematic violation of fundamental rights.
However, it is essential to avoid simplistic conclusions. Low prices are not always synonymous with exploitation, just as high prices do not guarantee ethical practices or transparency. The relationship between cost and social justice is complex and demands a critical perspective that goes beyond intuition or marketing narratives. The central question should not be merely how much a garment costs, but what production structure sustains that price. In this sense, the consumer plays a decisive role—not as a passive observer, but as an agent capable of influencing systemic transformation.
This is where uncomfortable yet necessary questions emerge:
What lies behind permanent low‑cost strategies?
What does it mean for a garment to cost less than a cup of coffee?
What real guarantees does an expensive garment offer regarding the dignity of the people who made it?
What certifications, audits, or traceability mechanisms support a brand’s ethical narrative?
These questions call for an exercise in intellectual and moral responsibility. Informed consumption requires investigating the origin of garments, examining whether a brand publishes verifiable information about its suppliers, checking whether it holds credible certifications—such as Fair Trade, SA8000, OEKO‑TEX, or B Corp—and assessing whether it demonstrates a clear commitment to eradicating child labor and protecting women throughout the production chain. Transparency cannot be assumed; it must be verified.
Ethical fashion is neither a passing trend nor a superficial gesture. It is a stance that recognizes that every purchasing decision has material consequences on the lives of others. The transformation of the industry does not depend solely on international regulations or corporate initiatives; it depends, to a large extent, on consumers who refuse to perpetuate exploitative dynamics through indifference or convenience. Choosing with intention, questioning commercial narratives, and demanding coherence between discourse and practice are profoundly political acts.
Ultimately, the most powerful question is also the most revealing:
What kind of world are you financing every time you choose a garment?
Answering it honestly means acknowledging that ethics do not reside in the price, but in the willingness to investigate, discern, and act responsibly. Only then will it be possible to build a fashion system that does not compromise human dignity at any stage.
