Wallet VS Conscience: Can They Be Friends?

One quiet evening back in my university days, while grabbing groceries with a dear friend, I noticed her meticulously examining cauliflower labels. “Isn’t a cauliflower just a cauliflower?” I blurted out.

To my surprise, she was looking for a Fairtrade label which meant that the farmers who grew the cauliflower received a fair wage, something she felt strongly about.

It never occurred to me that my everyday purchases might have a deeper impact.

But right there in the vegetable aisle, it dawned on me: the things I buy can ripple outwards, affecting lives far away.

Take a simple purchase, like a brand-new cotton dress. As a sewist, I appreciate the craftsmanship and skills that go into creating a garment.

But with every stitch I sew myself, I cannot help but wonder about the unseen hands that contributed to the dress.

Labour is woven into every step, from sowing the cotton seeds and harvesting the fibres to dyeing the fabric and assembling the final piece.

Sometimes I wonder, how can I be sure the people involved were treated fairly? The complex supply chain makes it hard to see what's happening behind the scenes. This lack of transparency is exactly what led to tragedies like the Rana Plaza collapse in 2013. Over 1,000 garment workers died in Bangladesh because of poor safety standards.

Overview of Rana Plaza collapsed at Savar, Bangladesh on April 24, 2013

Shockingly, many of the labels found in the rubble belonged to brands that hung in my own closet in the past.

Thankfully, in recent years there are more resources available to help me navigate this ethical maze.

Where possible, I prioritize products with certifications such as Fairtrade that ensure sustainability throughout the supply chain.

I also rely on websites like Good On You to act as my fashion compass, giving brands ratings on worker treatment, environmental impact, and even animal welfare.

And let me tell you, a quick online search can sometimes be a real rabbit hole – you would not believe the human rights issues some major companies get tangled up in! It's a real wake-up call.

However, over time I realised that consuming only products that are certified, have good ratings, and are without claims of labour abuse in their supply chain is no easy task.

Ethical items often come with hefty price tags due to certification fee, lower economies of scale, and fair wages to workers – a privilege I could not always afford.

Plus, not everything has transparent information, and even certifications can be misleading. The whole supply chain thing also feels like a black box.

How can I be sure that something as complex as a phone do not use critical minerals mined by children in the Democratic Republic of the Congo?

While achieving perfect ethical consumption might feel like a never-ending chase, the journey itself has opened my eyes to ways I can make a difference.

Online marketplaces such as Carousell have become my treasure troves, overflowing with pre-loved tudung and books waiting for a second life.

Gone are the days of impulse buys – now, I invest in quality items built to last. And speaking of giving things a new life, my sewing skills have come in handy!

I mend clothes to extend their wear, and I am already dreaming up ways to upcycle some of my old favourites into something creative – maybe even for my daughter someday!

I have also shifted my shopping habits towards small, local businesses, many of which are transparent in their production processes and prioritise quality craftmanship over mass production.

Maybe, just maybe, my efforts, and the efforts of others like me, can be a catalyst for change. We have already seen positive shifts as consumer awareness grows.

For example, following reports of child labour in its cobalt mines in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Samsung has pledged to source conflict-free minerals and improve working conditions.

Similarly, Nike, under fire for sweatshop conditions in the 1990s had implemented a code of conduct for suppliers and increased transparency in their operations. While some argue they have not gone far enough, these examples show that consumer pressure can make a difference.

The next time you are faced with a buying decision, take a moment to consider the impact of your choice.

Do not be discouraged if you cannot tick every ethical box. Every small step, from choosing a pre-loved item to researching a brand's practices, contributes to a larger movement.