"Clothes aren’t going to change the world, the women who wear them will”
Ecofeminism is the branch of feminism that examines how women and nature are interconnected. The term dates back to 1974 when it was coined by French feminist Francoise d'Eaubonne. Through a series of conferences held in the United States, the ecofeminist movement was born from a group of academic women during the 70s and 80s. There is a long-standing association between women and nature, which has led to the oppression of both. Ecofeminism insists that the correlation between women and nature has resulted in a hierarchical structure that allows men the power to exploit both. By promoting the connections between environmentalism and feminism, the hope of ecofeminism is that both women and the natural world would gain the respect they deserve. Ecofeminism is committed to the environment and the awareness of its associations with women, and through this commitment, ecofeminists work to dismantle the patriarchal and capitalist society that we live in.
Ecofeminism plays an enormous role in the fashion industry today. As many people know, a large number of fashion brands care very little about their impacts on the environment, as well as their workers. Approximately 80% of garment workers globally are women. The majority of these women experience extremely poor working conditions, forced to endure sexual harassment, verbal and physical abuse, and exposure to harmful chemicals, just to make a living. And more often than not, their wages are not livable wages; many companies think they can get away with this because they view women as passive actors who work under their power. This is the same way that many people view the environment, incapable of fighting back and at their disposal. Fast fashion brands cause extreme detriment to our environment, such as water and soil pollution, extreme amounts of waste, and nonrenewable resource depletion. Not only are these companies unsustainable, they are compromising human rights to sell their clothes cheaply, and increase profit margins.
Patriarchy and capitalism have brainwashed women into believing that in order to be their most beautiful self, they also have to wear the clothes that are hot off the runway. This is simply not the case. When we abide by these principles, it further feeds into the idea that beauty can be bought. Spending moments on products that society has told us will "enhance our beauty" is a sham built on the patriarchal views of society, the same ones that turn the wheel of capitalism. What's truly most important is wearing clothes and supporting brands that make YOU feel good. One of the greatest ways to support ecofeminism is by expressing your freedom of choice; the choice to support women designers, sustainable brands and your own style.
Our team aims to educate our community about the interconnectedness of fashion and our society. To better adhere to ecofeminist ideology, next time you are out shopping, try to buy clothes from companies that are respectful to all walks of life, are female-run or -owned, and/or environmentally conscious.
Comments