In 2013 in World 39, the Dhaka garment factory disaster, along with the admission of conclusive evidence linking non-sustainable fashion production chain practices to chronic illness, spur a child strike in Bangladesh, India and China, led by the Rana Plaza orphans, an event which in turn sparks global school walk-outs, finally forcing transnational labeling legislation.
Global Care Labeling System pictograms indicate factors such as: use of child labor; toxicity of treatment and/or dyeing processes; garment degradation time; water waste; factory conditions; percentage of retail price received by laborers. Consumer practices shift radically as a result of impact awareness, forcing manufacturer accountability and thus sustainable practices.
What if …
a mandatory “Global Care Labeling System” similar to those found on laundering labels, were prominently featured on hangtags and garment labels, shifting consumer habits and thus forcing a radical change in production practices and manufacturer accountability?
Issue targeted:
waste, overproduction, overconsumption, labor justice, labor conditions, unfair trade practices and unsustainable production chains, pollution, illness
Inspiration:
Greta Thunberg, child-led initiatives to create global awareness, consumer awareness and power
This World was contributed by Jeannine Diego (located in Mexico City, Mexico) using a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International licence which allows others to share and adapt the work in any medium and for any purpose, providing that they credit the author and share their material using the same Creative Commons licence.
Does this World remind you of something?
I am keen to hear about any historical or contemporary real-world examples – whether individual practices, subcultures or mainstream activities – that this fiction brings to mind.
Please share any such examples using this form. Thank you!