It’s no secret: all students love a great deal. My favourite going out top? Three dollars from Old Navy. And if you ever compliment it, you bet I’m going to say thanks and then tell you exactly about how I paid for it in quarters!
Since then I had been wondering how companies can afford to sell such cheap clothing! How do they make money selling these three dollar tank tops?
After all, the co-founder of Zara is considered the 3rd wealthiest man in the world.
Trendy, inexpensive clothing is very “in” right now, which is otherwise known as “Fast Fashion”. According to Investopedia, fast fashion refers to a phenomenon in the fashion industry whereby production processes are sped up in order to get new trends to the market as quickly and cheaply as possible. Starting to sound a little familiar?
Fast fashion retailers include stores like H&M, Zara, and Forever 21. They have incredibly cheap clothing, and odds are if you go the same store twice in one week they will have an entirely new selection of clothes. But these ones are only meant to be worn and washed a few times before you’ll have to go out and buy a new one!
These stores are very popular for the teenage and young adult market who love the bargain deals and the vast selection of products and of course the fact that with all the money you save you can buy more!
But here’s the rude awakening, there’s a reason why these clothes are so cheap.
If you check your labels from any fast fashion retailer, you’ll realize that none of your garments were actually made in Canada or the US. The American Apparel and Footwear Association states more than 97 percent of apparel and 98 percent of shoes sold in the U.S. are made overseas. Why is that?
Because it’s cheaper production. A lot cheaper. Specifically, in terms of labour and raw materials. In case economics isn’t your strong suit, here’s how it goes down:
Having your clothing made in another country allows companies to only have to pay a few cents an hour to have your garments made quickly and efficiently. This allows the company to have a large profit margin because they don’t have to spend much paying their workers (large profit margin is just a fancy way of saying “getting the most bang for your buck”) and in turn you can sell your product at a cheaper cost which makes the consumers happy.
There have been numerous investigations in the past few decades that look into the working conditions of these factories as well as company policies. Child labor and sweatshop-like working conditions are the reality for many famous retail brands. In the past decade, there have been factory collapses and investigations that reveal that child slaves are actually making North American children’s clothes and yet we still treat fast fashion retailers to a good chunk of our paycheque.
One way to help support the garment industry in a positive way is to be more conscious of where your clothes actually come from. So do a little research, look for items that are specifically made in Canada, handmade or try shopping second hand!
Here are a few “Made in Canada” options you probably didn’t know existed:
Raised by Wolves
Needs & Wants
Muttonhead
Roots
Jerico
Fig Clothing
Encircled
Work Shop Boutique (on Dalhousie Street)
Adorit (on York Street)
Take a second and check your own label. Where was your t-shirt made? Better yet, how?
Sources: Youtube, Investopedia, CNBC, Globalization 101, MTV
Picture Credits: Cover Picture, 1, 2