the clothes on my back.

warning: before you read this post, please know that it is mostly a rant, and completely my personal opinion.

over the past few months i've noticed a marked change in my attitude towards multinational clothing companies. now everyone has heard of sweatshops, and the huge companies that we buy from everyday that make use of these hugely unethical yet still highly debated practices, but how many people actually cease to inadvertently support these practices by not purchasing products from these companies? (or even limiting what they buy?)
it's actually a bit complicated to keep your shopping list ethical, as so many companies have now been bought out by larger corporations. so a product that used to be australian made and owned with all the proceeds staying in australia, and employee working conditions protected by national regulation (which of course has holes in it, but not holes as big as some developing nations), now belongs to an multinational corporation that owns one product that purports to be organic, environmentally friendly, and ethically produced while selling another that was tested on animals, doesn't have a natural ingredient on the list and was made by children who have disfigured hands from working with the chemical ingredients without proper safety precautions.

without making fun of this disgusting situation, what's a girl to do? what can i do to relinquish my role in inadvertently supporting something i abhor?
i stop buying the products that support the companies, as much as possible. i still have a huge amount of research to do into all of the products i choose to buy, for food, clothes, cosmetics or anything. but so far i think i am doing alright.
i source my clothes either from local designers who's garments are made in australia using ethically sourced materials and made using sustainable practices, or from second hand stores whose profits go to charities to help people in australia and other countries around the world (this is sometimes trying, as if i see something advertised that i love - which i'm still a girl who loves fashion, who goes gaga over a nice pair of shoes, or a cute skirt - i have to either find it in a second hand shop, or make it myself).
i try to buy local fresh fruit and vegetables, and support local businesses by buying other australian made groceries.

if i as one person can make a small difference, then many people making similar small changes in their life can add up to a huge and significant difference.
one of my friends once called me the eternal optimist. i think he was somewhat correct.

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