Animal Rights as Ecofeminism: 6. Garment Production

Where Does My Clothes Come From?

Before being aware of what animal rights were, I never batted my eyes to where my clothes came from. I never questioned if something was leather, if it was wool, if a child produced it, or if it was outsourced. The horrifying truth is that most people around the world continue to either not simply care about where their clothes come from or are unfortunately unaware.

(The Star)

The first time I became aware of where my clothes came from and what is was made of, was when I heard of child labor. I must have been in high school when I heard this term. The more I became aware of child labor I saw a parallel between the unfair conditions children (and adults) work in and the horrendous ways my clothes is produced.

These are horrible working conditions were children and grown adults are denying basic rights like safety. Usually for cents a day, they work extremely long hours to only continue to live in a cycle of poverty. Many who are injured while at work never receive proper care as they are scared to ask for help as they fear job loss or are denied it.

(eccouterre)

Unfortunately, many of these children never finish their education and the cycle continues. While in other parts of the world, multi-billion dollar corporations continue to profit of their "slave" labor.

Now lets look into our actual clothing...what is is made of?

(PETA)

Many of us have this image in our head that leather comes from cows that are dead already, wool from the sheep grazing on farms or your jackets but this is farm from the truth. If your clothing has some type of animal product in it....well it probably caused an animal a lot of pain.

Below are some videos of what are clothes is really made of.....