PROFESSIONAL ETHICS

END TERM JURY

SUBMITTED BY:
ANUSHKA NARAYAN
B.FTECH
MAIN ETHICAL ISSUES IN FASHION INDUSTRY
Ethical fashion can be defined as the production of textile items with a conscience . Ethical
issues in fashion are emerging. The fashion industry has complex connections to many other
fields, including manufacturing, advertising, production of raw materials, transportation and
retailing. The tremendous profits that stand to be made in the fashion industry create the
temptation to engage in unethical behaviour. When producers, manufacturers, models or
consumers are being exploited or treated unfairly, fashion executives have an ethical
responsibility to change the situation.

Body Image Issues

Virtually all of the models who represent fashion houses are abnormally thin, in keeping with
the perceived aesthetic preferences of the public. This focus on extreme thinness in women
has been blamed for eating disorders and poor body image among some women whose
bodies don't conform to this idealized image.

Problems with the Fur Trade

Fashions that use real animal fur support the fur industry, which is infamous for its inhumane
treatment of animals. Fur is acquired either by trapping wild animals and skinning them or by
raising animals domestically for their fur.

Cultural Influence and Appropriation

In their ongoing search for new, different and exciting looks, fashion designers sometimes
borrow elements of foreign cultures. Some indigenous members of these cultures don't
appreciate this practice, and accuse designers of cultural appropriation.
Consumer Over Consumption
Bringing out a new line of clothing every year encourages fashion enthusiasts to buy new
clothes that they don't really need. While some people see this as harmless or as a boon to
the economy, others believe that it encourages mindless consumerism.
Environmental Impacts and Concerns
The materials, transportation and production that are involved in the fashion industry all have
an impact on the environment. Many synthetic materials are derived from petroleum, while
many more natural materials are grown on land that could be used for food production.
Brand Name Forgery
The main appeal of many fashionable accessories is the brand name. A Gucci bag can be sold
for many times more than an identical bag made by a competitor. Forgers take advantage of
this fact by creating cheap knock-off and illegally adding the names of famous fashion houses.

Sweat Shop Labor Practices

Many fashionable clothes are manufactured by poorly paid people in developing countries.
This practice, known as sweatshop labor, has come under major scrutiny and has been
condemned by a wide range of critics.
Exclusivity and Inequality Issues
A large part of the appeal of expensive, fashionable clothing is that it's exclusive. The vast
majority of people can't afford to buy it, so it grants a level of status and glamour to those
who can.

Blood Diamonds and Related Problems

Upper end fashions sometimes use diamonds. "Blood diamonds" are mined under poor
conditions, sometimes by violent groups that use the income from the diamonds to fund their
activities.

Child labour
In their pursuit of cheap production, major fashion brands often relocate their production
facilities to underdeveloped parts of the world, mostly in the Second and Third World. Child
fashion workers are not only made to work in critically substandard conditions all day long;
they are also stripped of their fundamental right to education.

Values which I would like to inculcate in my life:

 Ability to Sacrifice: Life is fraught with hardships. There will be many occasions where
a sacrifice is necessary in order to make the best of a difficult situation.
 Kindness: We should be willing to help others and note that the joy of helping others
is a reward in itself. There should not be any expectation of any other rewards.
 Being Charitable: Charity is another unsung virtue which we should inculcate while
having compassion and caring for others.
 Honesty and high personal integrity: Take responsibility, admit your mistakes and
failings, not lying or doing things that would promote lying.
 Practicing Empathy: At times It is really hard to imagine the struggles people go
through unless you walk in their shoes Learn and instil the power of empathy,
understand their plight and help where i can.
 Forgiveness :- To be angry you have to do it all day everyday but to forgive you just
have to do it once.
 Appreciation : Thank you mum for cooking the food. Thank you to my friend who
always asks me if I have reached home. Thank you to people who check up on me.I
appreciate you thank you.
 Optimism: Optimism is a strength. We choose to focus on all that is good in life
because we realize that it doesn’t do us any good to focus on all that is wrong.
 Gratitude : There’s always something to be grateful about if you only you took out a
minute and looked around or within.
 Care for Nature and the environment: Instead of just extracting its resources we
should work together for a sustainable future and take possible measures to save our
mother earth.