This practice is somewhat new to me because I honestly never really thought about it. That now seems like a preposterously ignorant statement, but it is the truth. I have been on this journey since June 2015 and I have learned so much. The ignorance could be mine alone as the whole world out there may be aware of what I wasn't about ethical stores and cruelty free brands. I am not reinventing the wheel nor do I have the audacity to think that I could, but since the awakening of my sleepy conscience I've turned into a conscious consumer and I want to shout about it from the roof tops. I've never been one to keep my uninvited opinion to myself and it doesn't look like I'm going to start on this. With the release of the Christmas adverts that seek to make us cry over the last number of weeks, I got to thinking about shopping as a whole and as Christmas shopping madness is nearly upon us let's give thought and consideration when buying our holiday gifts.
I absolutely want to and plan on donating to charities that assist the less fortunate at this time of year. This is a great gift, especially in a time of poverty, homelessness and with the mass migration of people who seek refuge. I advocate donating money, food, clothes and toys to the people who need it at any time of the year and I don't do it half enough.
I really believe in the not testing on animals cause which is why I jumped on this band wagon. I am finding out new things every day and from the little personal research I have conducted, there are great affordable alternatives to the shower gels, deodorants, washing powders and mascaras that are right under your nose link here for product shopping guide and these are not just to be found in a hippie shop in a far away land owned by tree huggers who throw paint on fur coats. I am completely, wholeheartedly and unequivocally against fur as one would imagine but I've been known to rock a faux fur ensemble like the best of them. This lands me here, my segue to a discussion on ethical fashion stores. There are a number of websites out there on ethical shopping that give lists of stores and fashion brands that practice fair trade with their workers and from who and how they source their materials. These stores and companies are rated according to their social record and environmental impact, the ethical treatment of their employees and their stance on animal welfare.
Be warned it is a mind boggling. The countless number of websites all be they informative can be and are to me confusing. And although I am confused I am happy to be informed because from what I can tell there are brands that we should emphatically avoid. Those being the ones that have the lowest ratings when it comes to the criteria listed above, especially in the treatment of their employees; think sweat shop appalling conditions of over worked and underpaid employees and then the ones who source their materials in the most inhumane ways, for example the dreaded angora wool factories that abuse defenseless rabbits whose fur is plucked and ripped from their skin while they are held down. It is disgusting to think about but it is this knowledge that has changed the way I shop and yes sometimes I think ignorance is bliss and wish I could unsee what I have seen, the haunting images upset me and stay with me but I try to no longer fuel that economy as I once did. Fortunately, I am not acquainted with one person who would willingly abuse an animal or person but if like me they were unaware of these conditions before I hope that by it being spoken about and creating awareness around it they will consider researching what and where they buy.
I am an everyday consumer. When I walk through the aisles of a clothes shop, supermarket or pharmacy since I started this in June, I immediately think of animal welfare and the employees conditions. I am scourged with the dreadful images of innocent and vulnerable faces, sentient beings and this compels me to try and only buy cruelty free planet friendlier products and to tell all and sundry about it. I may lose a few friends over my soap boxiness or a reader or two. I'm probably more concerned about the reader, ah now. It's the truth. I joke.
Luckily some of the shops that both you and I already shop in are ok on the moral front, however they, like me could do better. Some of the not so good ones and some of the downright awful surprised me too. I'm not in the business of naming and shaming, ok I definitely would but I don't have the funds to fight a legal battle with a huge brand. If you want to find out more do an internet search on ethical brands and shops and ethical highstreet shopping reports. There are specific pages, websites and reports dedicated to fashion, the effects on the planet and how different brands fare in terms of the planet, the treatment of their employees and animal welfare. And with all that said, this Christmas and from now on, I will think about what I am purchasing and where it came from and as I make my list and check it twice I'll take to the internet to find out who's naughty and a little bit nice and I'll become a keyboard warrior going to battle with the unscrupulous and vouching not to give them a penny.
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