Inspite of myself, I must make this point today- fussing over local production in an era of globalisation and a “boundaryless” economy is a shame! You have to change with the changing times else you will be left far behind. The internet has helped us overcome many limitations and its time to benefit from it.

When the so-called “third world” countries are striving hard to make products that are of international standard and working on our time zones to make our products that we design, why are we shying away from giving them the right to a better livelihood?

As much as you try, you will NEVER succeed from taking work away from them and keeping your manufacturing limited to your own region. Every successful fashion brand has outsourced work to places where they can be made at a much lesser cost. By doing this they have not only helped the worker in those third world countries get a better wage and lifestyle but also helped themselves by being able to mass produce and manufacture a cost-effective product. Collaborate! It can help you grow.

I do find many clothes unreasonably priced. When I call them unreasonable, it’s because manufacturing locally is NO excuse to increase the price of the product. Why should the end user pay for your comfort? If you are so worried (and I’m glad you are) about making a product ethically and can’t find someone to help you reduce the manufacturing cost, in this age of the internet and social media- then TRAVEL to a country that can and get it made. BUT dont expect a consumer to pay for your comfortable life in a developed nation paying high amounts to manufacture goods ONLY because you are not prepared to walk that extra mile to give your buyer a good price!  Surely you wish to be called an ethically priced brand too?

Let me also add here that ETHICAL manufacturing is not an added cost. If a designer is trying to sell you something pricey under the pretext of it being ETHICAL then that is not true! Ethical manufacturing aims at being fair and improving lifestyles of people who can help you improve your prices! Yes, there is an element of trust involved here. You need to take the pain to find out if the place you manufacture your goods is doing business in a fair manner, but that “finding out” is what makes you a responsible seller.

How many people can actually afford only Australian made designer fashion? Why cant we reduce the price of the end product we make and pass a part of the benefit to the end consumer? Why cant we make better profits and help the economy grow by earning a little more?  Why cant we help consumers spend lesser on buying clothes so that they can have money to spend on other things? Isn’t that a better economical scenario?

ONE WORLD, my dear. Its just ONE world we all live in.Treat your neighbour with respect and know that others too are capable of what you are. Quality, quantity and skill. If you doubt it, then teach them. But don’t complain without giving them a chance!

I have heard stories of people calling India/ Indonesia corrupt, China being a “copy-cat” or Bangladesh being unskilled. I only have sympathy for people who can have such racist views. NO COUNTRY can stand stall for being free from any corruption or malice. It is your responsibility to research and source work to the people you can trust and take total responsibility for your judgement.

As a brand owner, I urge you to take that extra pain to do this simple research and if you cant do it, then dont expect the buyer to pay $2000 for something they can easily get for $200. I refuse to wear anything ONLY because it is locally made, I am happy to wear it if its both locally made and rightly priced.

Locally made fashion does not necessarily mean that it is sustainable nor does it help cut any environmental impact, it may however improve the economical situation and the fashion industry here, temporarily. But that is ONLY if you can find buyers who will pay those enormous prices! And if you don’t, you are encouraging wasted manufacture of goods that have a very small market and can never reach out to the masses.

The shift to ethical fashion is ONLY possible when there is no added cost to it. We are all working together to make this shift happen. Are you prepared to trust your third world manufacturer to help you here?

Read Full Post »