Eleven years since the catastrophic collapse of the Rana Plaza factory, why
has nothing changed?
It has been 11 years since 1134 people were killed when the Rana Plaza garment factory in Bangladesh collapsed.
The event is known as the deadliest accidental structural failure in history. The most horrific part being that it all could have been so easily avoided.
The day before the building collapsed, growing concerns about cracks in the walls led to a complete evacuation of the 3000 workers. However, the owner of the plaza announced there was no need for concern and ordered all staff back to work. Those who hesitated were warned that their pay would be withheld if they didn’t return.
The cracks in the walls were a result of construction performed without permits.
The eight-story building was completely unsuitable to support the weight of all the equipment required for garment manufacturing.
All of this was overlooked in the name of fast fashion, an industry prioritising cutting costs over the cost of a person’s life.
In the 11 years since the Rana Plaza collapsed, any ethical changes that could be made to the fashion industry are being hindered by world-wide ignorance. Solutions are a long way off, but consideration and intention are the first step.
What you can do
1: Be Aware and Raise Awareness
Fast fashion feeds an endless cycle of harm. Harm to the environment, harm to animals and harm to exploited workers.
Making conscious choices about what you buy and how much you are buying breaks the cycle of ignorance. Your actions hold power, and you get to choose how that power is put to use.
2: Buy Less and Invest
If you decide to implement sustainable fashion practices in your own life, the best place to begin is in your wardrobe.
Wear what you have, and when you decide you want something new, consider high-quality items purchased from ethical brands or small businesses.
Good On You is a website which rates the ethical standard of countless well-known brands for you to easily compare and contrast.
Second-hand shops are often a good place for quality items on a budget.
The Fashion Revolution
In the wake of the Rana Plaza Disaster, the Fashion Revolution emerged. Every year, on the anniversary of the building collapse, efforts are made to raise awareness for about happened and push for ethical changes in the fashion industry.
The aim, the Fashion Revolution writes on its website, is to: “Remember the lives lost and demand that no one should die for fashion”. The organisation, supported by the likes of actress Emma Watson, is out to prove that the use of collective voice has the power to change the system so that people will be put before the profit.
Featured image: Factory workers are subjected to terrible working conditions. Photo: Rio Lecatompessy/CC/Unsplash