Recently in class discussing ethical issues in fashion, I was reminded of the breadth of ethical issues impacting all industries. The exercise asked participants to identify and theorize current ethical issues facing the fashion industry. We shared ideas and perspectives as a group of five and this highlighted common threads in the ethical practices across sectors.
Our teacher began the discussion by asking us to name ethical issues in fashion. It was a daunting task at first because of the topic scope but some critical issues emerged. Most poignant was the use of cotton and its effects on the environment and labor practices. Cotton - often called "white gold" - is darker still because of extensive use of pesticides and water. The ethical dilemma involves environmental degradation and health risks for cotton farm workers. We related this issue to utilitarian ethical theory, which advocates the greatest good for the greatest number. The use of organic cotton could be considered utilitarian, aiming at reducing harm and maximizing benefits for a wider audience.
Another problem was using animal products such as leather and fur. This discussion was particularly heated due to animal rights and the ethics of animal treatment. The Kantian ethical concept that people (including animals) are to be considered ends in themselves rather than means to an end provided a sound framework for considering this problem. Communities that rely on animal products for their livelihoods added perspectives to this debate.
When we presented our findings to other groups, discussions assumed a comparative dimension. With peers in sectors like electronics and banking we saw that some ethical issues like labour exploitation and environmental responsibility are universal. For example, the conflict mineral problem in electronics manufacturing echoed the cotton farming in fashion. Both sectors face scrutiny over supply chains that cover up human rights abuses and environmental damage.
Discussions around these parallels were informative and suggested both ethical consumerism and the potential for industries to learn from each other regarding these issues.
The banking sector presented another set of ethical challenges mainly regarding transparency and fairness. However the underlying principles of corporate responsibility and accountability were similar. The public disclosure of the stipulations of banking regulation prompted thoughtful reflection on whether similar frameworks might be applied to the fashion industry to encourage ethical practice.
This was not an academic discussion during this class discussion. This had been a reflective process that challenged us to ponder our duties as future business leaders. It called for ethical considerations in decision making and the impacts of such choices on society and also the planet. It also called for cross sector collaboration and dialogue to achieve more sustainable and ethical business globally.