GREEN PRODUCE
Once seen as the preserve of tree huggers and barefoot hippies, ethical shopping is now becoming more mainstream. The amount of money spent in Britain on ethical or green products has been steadily increasing for several years. This doesn't just involve food but also travel, finance, cosmetics and even home appliances.
The manufacture of clothing in third world countries and the ethics involved has been a political issue for some time now, with the media highlighting concerns about sweatshop labour being used in developing countries.
Ethical or Fairtrade foods have become a success with more organic shops and restaurants opening up around the country. Supermarkets have also got in on the act by increasing the amount of this type of produce on their shelves. It's a strategy that appears to be paying off as, according to research, sales are increasing. Supermarket shoppers seem willing to spend more on quality fruit and vegetables. But, what about clothing?
A number of clothing manufacturers have received bad press in the past and are at last publicly addressing these issues. Consumer awareness has also increased and shoppers are looking closely at labels on clothing and investigating the origin of the goods.
At the top end of the market fashion designer Stella McCartney, for example, refuses to use leather, furs or other animal products in her clothing range. High street stores and online retailers have also introduced ethical clothing ranges. Of course, these changes are taking place slowly and still only account for a small percentage of overall sales.
One reason is the cost. Ethically produced clothing is more expensive to manufacture. Research, finding suitable materials and appropriate factories all adds to the price. There is also the cost of marketing and promoting these ranges, which usually means a higher price than 'unethical' products. However, as these products become more readily available, demand should increase and prices will fall.