Environmental Management System

Prelim Task Performance

A stirring film called The Real Cost explores the terrible effects of the global fashion
business, which are sometimes disguised. After watching it, I was astounded and very troubled
by the scope of the issues raised in the movie and how they have been glossed over. The movie
presents a depressing image of the true costs of fashion, from the abuse of helpless workers to
the harmful impacts of textile production on the environment. It furthered my understanding of
the significance of being a responsible consumer and making every effort to select apparel and
other products in an ethical manner. A 2015 documentary called The True Cost examines the
human cost of the "fast-fashion" industry. It delves into the production methods used by many
sizable clothing corporations as well as the financial and environmental effects of mass-
produced, inexpensive apparel. The movie examines how communities and the planet's future are
impacted by the environmental harm the fashion industry causes. It also looks at how the present
fashion business model has led to worker exploitation and violations of their human rights in
nations like Bangladesh, India, and China. A strong wake-up call, The Real Cost challenges
viewers to make ethical purchasing decisions and speak out against the unethical practices of the
fashion business. The movie The True Cost exposed the impact of the fashion industry on human
lives, the environment, and society at large, and this revelation has caused me to become more
conscious of the decisions I make while shopping.

In the documentary The Real Cost, the effects of the fast fashion business on society and
the environment are examined. The video offers an insightful investigation of the human and
environmental costs of the fashion industry and issues a call to action for people, organizations,
and governments to effect real change. The movie begins with a montage of stunning fashion
models wearing high-end clothing in opulent malls. This establishes the mood for the movie,
which immediately shifts to the brutal truths of the fashion business. It raises awareness of the
garment industry's abusive labor practices and the damaging environmental effects of the
manufacturing process. The documentary conducts interviews with people from a range of
demographics, including Bangladeshi textile workers and US business executives. In addition to
hearing tales of exploitation and poverty, we also learn about improbable heroes who are
speaking out. The environmental costs of rapid fashion are also examined in the movie. It

Lester Cambe BSBA202-A February 22, 2023

 Environmental Management System
Prelim Task Performance

demonstrates how abandoned clothing is filling landfills, how dangerous chemicals are
dispersing into the atmosphere, and how synthetic materials are contaminating rivers.

Fast fashion has become an increasingly popular choice in recent years, but few of us
consider the true cost of our clothing. From the exploitation of people in the production process
to the devastating environmental impact of production and disposal, our shopping habits have
far-reaching consequences. The True Cost does an excellent job of showing the true cost of fast
fashion, and the effects it has on workers and the environment. It provides an eye-opening look
at the inhumane practices of the fashion industry, and the need for systemic change in order to
make it more sustainable and ethical.

The movie examines both the consuming and manufacturing sides of the fashion
industry. In the past, we used to use clothing for a very long time, but disposable clothing is now
readily available and accessible (Ozdamar-Ertekin and Atik 2015). Fast fashion, as described by
Siegle, has produced a system in which, rather of the conventional two seasons per year, we now
have about 52, meaning that new merchandise is arriving in stores every week. As a result, every
year the globe consumes around 80 billion new articles of apparel. This is 400% greater than the
quantity we used to consume in the 1990s (Morgan 2015). The justification for governments and
businesses needing to have such high levels of consumption is because the economic system,
particularly in Western nations, is founded on consumer capitalism and materialism.

The film also shows how the industry's rapid expansion has caused environmental harm.
The second-most polluting industry in the world, behind the oil industry, is the clothing sector,
according to Morgan. Additionally, a lot of natural resources are parallel to this, Mike Schragger,
the creator of the Sustainable Fashion Academy, notes that a significant portion of the resources
we need to produce our apparel are not factored into the price of doing so. Contrarily, as John
Hilary notes, the capital has no restrictions on its ability to expand and grow, whereas the natural

Lester Cambe BSBA202-A February 22, 2023

 Environmental Management System
Prelim Task Performance

environment has clearly established limitations to how much the planet can support—limits that
we have already exceeded.

The film exposes the reality of how our clothes are made and the human and
environmental toll that comes along with it. The film follows the journey of several people
affected by the industry, including workers in garment factories, environmental activists, and
survivors of the Rana Plaza collapse in Bangladesh, where more than 1100 people died. The film
reveals that, while garments may be made cheaply and sold for a fraction of the cost of
traditional clothing, there is an immense price that is paid in terms of human lives, environmental
destruction, and displacement of traditional crafts. The film highlights the need for greater
accountability in the industry, for companies to be held responsible for their actions, and for
consumers to be aware of their purchases and the impact they have.

The fair trade and environmentally friendly clothing line People Tree, which was started
by Safia Minney in Japan more than 20 years ago, is another example mentioned in the
documentary. A fair share of the proceeds go to the producers, and People Tree works according
to fair-trade principles. According to Minney, consumers need complete transparency and
responsibility to know that the things they buy benefit the people and the environment in an
ethical manner (Minney 2014). Minney is not gloomy about the future like some people. She
anticipates that the business will undergo a substantial degree of change over the next ten years,
and People Tree wants to serve as a change agent by demonstrating the viability of the concept.

Perhaps the most powerful part of the film is the testimonies of those affected by the
industry, and the sheer scale of the destruction it has caused. The film offers a stark reminder of
the enormity of the issues, and that we all have a part to play if we are to make a positive
difference. The True Cost is a powerful and eye-opening documentary that shows the true human

Lester Cambe BSBA202-A February 22, 2023

 Environmental Management System
Prelim Task Performance

and environmental cost of fast fashion. It is an important reminder that the clothes we wear have
a real cost, and it is up to us to make sure that we take responsibility for the choices we make.

The documentary also provides an inspiring call to action. It asks viewers to think more
critically about the clothes they buy and to choose ethical and sustainable fashion. It encourages
people to support organizations and businesses that are committed to creating change, and to
pressure governments to enforce stricter regulations on the fashion industry.

Overall, The True Cost is an important documentary that serves as a wake-up call to all
of us. It provides a powerful insight into the issues surrounding the fashion industry, and the
need for greater global consciousness when it comes to what we buy, wear, and consume. The
film is an essential watch for anyone who wants to become more aware of their role in the
destruction of our planet. For those of us in the developed world, it’s easy to forget that the
clothing we wear is the result of hard labor. Sweatshops and child labor are still prevalent in the
fashion industry, and workers are often paid far below minimum wage in unsafe conditions. It is
estimated that the average garment worker in a developing country earns less than $2 per day.
This is a tragedy that we should all be aware of and strive to end. Our clothes come at a high
environmental cost. Up to 10% of the carbon emissions produced worldwide are attributed to the
fashion business, with fabric production producing the majority of these emissions. In addition,
the majority of clothes purchases are discarded within a year, creating a significant quantity of
trash. Fortunately, there are many things we can do to reduce the impact of our clothing
purchases. Shopping secondhand and vintage helps reduce waste, and buying from ethical brands
that adhere to fair labor standards ensures that workers are being treated fairly. We can also start
to be more mindful of the clothing we buy—only buying what we need and taking care of our
clothes so that they last longer. We all need to consider the real price of rapid fashion. It's time to
start inquiring about the origins and methods of the clothing we wear so that we may make
better-informed purchasing decisions. In his concluding remarks, Morgan writes, "Maybe we can

Lester Cambe BSBA202-A February 22, 2023

 Environmental Management System
Prelim Task Performance

start here with clothing. In the myths of all the challenges facing us today and all the problems
that feel bigger than us and beyond our control, we can start here with clothing. Together we
begin to make a real change as we remember that everything we wear was touched by human
hands." Together, we can change things.

References:

Cook, I. (n.d.). Follow the Things | Fashion | The True Cost. Follow the Things.

http://www.followthethings.com/thetruecost.shtml

Ozdamar-Ertekin, Z. (2017). The True Cost: The Bitter Truth behind Fast Fashion. Markets,
Globalization & Development Review, 2(3).

https://doi.org/10.23860/mgdr-2017-02-03-07

Sung, K. S. (2021, December 31). A Critical Zooming in on the Fast Fashion Industry: Focusing
on the Documentary Films The True Cost (2015) and RiverBlue (2017). Asian Women, 37(4),
49–67.

https://doi.org/10.14431/aw.2021.12.37.4.49

Lester Cambe BSBA202-A February 22, 2023