Coming from a third-world country, watching the documentary The True Cost is enlightening and traumatic. Imagine that. We all must have noticed that probably most of our clothes or much of what we use — everything — are imported from China or other developing country. We just don't pay attention to it.
The documentary The True Cost, directed by Andrew Morgan and co-produced by Livia Firth, is a look at the outcomes of fast fashion, the trend these days set by giant clothing companies. It is a documentary that is shocking at so many levels.
It tackles the effects of trends to the workers from poor countries, consumer mentality and the environment; and all of them aren't pretty. Like most documentaries where big issues are compacted for viewing purposes, The True Cost is still another simplified presentation of a big issue. The economics involved are complex and cannot be covered by even a two-hour video.
Ethical issues covered included harsh labor conditions, consumer behavior, farmer suicides and environmental hazards. It does not put the blame on a single entity or industry, but looked at the whole system, as it should be.
This made me feel guilty. It made me sad and angry. Toward the end, the video montage of American shoppers and video bloggers talking about their shopping haul, juxtaposed to victims of chromium poisoning in India, violent riots in Cambodia and suffering laborers in Bangladesh, makes an ending for this harrowing film climactic. It makes you feel bad for buying clothes.
*****
Now looking for sustainable clothes will be tough. Like the zippers, buttons and even the very thread used for most clothes comes from developing countries. Even if we try looking for good sources. It is difficult. I guess the only thing we can do is just wear clothes we like, and not treat them as disposables.
The documentary The True Cost, directed by Andrew Morgan and co-produced by Livia Firth, is a look at the outcomes of fast fashion, the trend these days set by giant clothing companies. It is a documentary that is shocking at so many levels.
It tackles the effects of trends to the workers from poor countries, consumer mentality and the environment; and all of them aren't pretty. Like most documentaries where big issues are compacted for viewing purposes, The True Cost is still another simplified presentation of a big issue. The economics involved are complex and cannot be covered by even a two-hour video.
Ethical issues covered included harsh labor conditions, consumer behavior, farmer suicides and environmental hazards. It does not put the blame on a single entity or industry, but looked at the whole system, as it should be.
This made me feel guilty. It made me sad and angry. Toward the end, the video montage of American shoppers and video bloggers talking about their shopping haul, juxtaposed to victims of chromium poisoning in India, violent riots in Cambodia and suffering laborers in Bangladesh, makes an ending for this harrowing film climactic. It makes you feel bad for buying clothes.
*****
Now looking for sustainable clothes will be tough. Like the zippers, buttons and even the very thread used for most clothes comes from developing countries. Even if we try looking for good sources. It is difficult. I guess the only thing we can do is just wear clothes we like, and not treat them as disposables.
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