We’ve all begun to notice it. Millennials and older generations alike are demanding transparency from brands. It’s AMAZING and everyone at RoHo is thrilled to be part of the movement. But I keep coming back to this question of how to make ethical fashion more inclusive for all consumers. When I’m going on ethical fashion blogs and shopping around in local boutiques for socially conscious or sustainable items, I’ve found I can drop a pretty penny far too quickly.
I’ll be the first to admit that it’s cheaper to purchase something from a fast fashion source. How can a socially conscious brand compete with a $10 t-shirt? We just can’t. But how then do we include our friends, family, colleagues, acquaintances who may have a more limited budget in the socially conscious movement? Are we being too exclusive? How do we make impactful fashion affordable to everyone?
I’d suggest we start out by taking the ego and judgement out of purchasing decisions. We can’t assume that everyone will prioritize purchasing from ethical brands. We all have our own personal financial situations and truths, which lead to different priorities. For someone struggling to put food on the table, purchasing t-shirts made made from organic cotton at twice the cost may not be feasible. We have to understand that not everyone can make the same financial decisions and there can’t be judgement in that. Absolutely educate people about the benefits of using ethical products, but do it without ego. We don’t know someone else’s story. Acknowledge that being an ethical or conscious consumer is a privilege, not necessary an expectation.
