In this globalized modern society overflowed with mass consumption and overproduction, transnational corporations have unparalleled powers. Every day, their activities and those of their subsidiaries affect the lives of millions of people and the future of our planet.

Nayla Ajaltouni, a specialist in economic developments and the coordinator of the Collectif Ethique sur l’étiquette. Created in 1995, this collective brings together arroximately 20 associations of international solidarity, trade unions and consumer movements. It aims to restore and promote global respect for human rights and environmental rights.

Ajaltouni presented a lecture to the Fashion Studies MA students, giving a constructive analysis about the most concerning and long-standing issues in the clothing industries related to fast fashion. With the collective, she is fighting against big corporations and federations that are insensitive to human exploitation, including low pay and bad working conditions, and the environmental damage that unsustainable fabrics bring. They challenge the capitalist economical patterns to raise awareness of the significance of human rights and sustainability among both producers and consumers.

During her presentation, she stated, “What we can do is to hold accountable for the companies that are responsible for all the negative impact to protect human rights and environments.” Their mission together with the general public is to keep reminding big corporations of their indispensable responsibility and ethical respect to the human race and to the environment.  And it is really the time for consumers to help “save” labourers and the planet from suffering at the hands of the fashion industry.

Find out more about what the Collectif Éthique sur L’Étiquette is doing by visitng their website: https://ethique-sur-etiquette.org/

Written by Yanran Xiong, MA Fashion Studies 2017-2019

Photo by Philippa Nesbitt, MA Fashion Studies 2017-2019

Featured photo courtesy of i-boycott.org