Dear fast fashion industry,

Did you know that crochet can only be produced by human hands? Unlike knitwear, crochet must be handmade and is unable to be replicated by a machine. So many people are mindlessly purchasing crochet garments at a very low price. Laborers are spending large amounts of time creating these items with hardly any pay. As a crocheter myself, I can tell you that crocheting is not a speedy process, nor one that can be easily sped up. You have to know this. You’re in charge.

Did you know that crochet garments aren’t the only issue though? Companies, like you, are using cheap and unethical labor to produce clothes that you then turn around and sell to consumers for a greatly discounted price. The World Counts says that in 2023, sweatshop workers can work up to 100 hours a week and make around $300 a year. To put that into perspective, the average American makes almost 200 times that amount at an average of $59,384 a year working only 38.7 hours a week. You know this too.

Did you know the impact this has on people? Not only are workers affected by their minimal pay and long hours, but according to the International Labour Organization, out of 27.6 million people forced into labor, 6.3 million of them are forced into sexual exploitation. It’s not only adults making our clothes either. According to the U.S. Department of Labor, it is estimated that there are 160 million children between the ages of 5 and 17 that are forced into labor with half of them working in hazardous conditions. But, of course, you know.

You do know all of this. You know about your unethical labor practices. You know that you’re exploiting millions of workers a day. You know this can’t be good for them. You know. You just don’t care. But we do.

More people now than ever are aware of your unethical practices. We know that buying into slow fashion with high-quality and timeless pieces can help make you stop. We know that buying clothes from second-hand stores or thrift stores will reduce your effects. We know that by learning how to make our own clothes or trading clothes we no longer want with our friends, we can help these poor people. We know and we do care. 

-Amelia Fulton