Ah, the sweet smell of cheap clothes. American consumers have been blessed with outrageously low prices for apparel. Back in ’93, you could cop a T-shirt for just $13! Not too shabby, right? Well nowadays, you’d have to fork up over three times that amount just to fill your gas tank. And that same T-shirt would cost you a measly $12.74.

All good things come with a catch, as we all know. The cost of these cheap clothes is the welfare of the hardworking individuals who make them. Take for example the workers at the Rana Plaza garment factory complex in Bangladesh. One hot and humid day, they noticed some cracks in the building and rightfully voiced their concerns. But when their bosses threatened to dock them a month’s pay, they stayed silent. Tragically, the building collapsed the very next day, killing over 1,100 people and injuring 2,500 others. How’s that for a price tag?

Sure, measures have been taken to improve the safety of factories in Bangladesh. But while one problem was addressed, we seem to have forgotten about the human beings who work tirelessly in sweatshops all over the world. Over 75 million people are employed in the global garment and textile industry, yet their voices and rights have been slowly deteriorating. It’s as if they’re worth less than the clothes they produce.

But let’s not forget the olden days. The time when the apparel industry was thriving and truly making a difference in human development. Back in the day, the textile trade in Manchester during the mid-19th century was a BEAST. It helped spur technological advancements that led to higher wages for workers and lower prices for consumers. It was a win-win situation, folks.

In conclusion, let’s not forget the true cost of our cheap clothes. We have the power to bring about change and ensure that every single person involved in the apparel industry is treated with respect and dignity. Because at the end of the day, we’re all just humans trying to make a living.

Serious News: nytimes