Clothing and the Financial Environment

Question 1

Why have a large number of SA textile industries closed down?

Answer 1

• cheaper to import clothing and textiles
• as opposed to manufacturing

Question 2

What are three reasons why it is cheaper to import than manufacture in SA?

Answer 2

• cheaper labour:
• no or few labour regulations
• SA has strict labour guidelines and minimum wage
• people prepared to work long hours at a lower wage
• technological advancement ensure rapid production

Question 3

How does the SA clothing industry suffer from low cost imports?

Answer 3

• industries close down
• thousands of jobs lost
• unemployment figures rise
• economic impact is huge

Question 4

What are some ways in which we can support the SA textile industry in order to make an economical and environmental difference?

Answer 4

• buy from stores that sell clothing ranges by SA designers
• look for locally produced garments
• support local talent and contribute to SA economy
• avoid buying cheap imports
• choose organic textile products (grown and processed without harm to the environment)
• look out for symbols such as Proudly South African and Fair Trade

Question 5

How can we as consumers reduce environmental pollution in terms of the fashion industry?

Answer 5

• choosing organic, biodegradable textiles

Question 6

How can we as consumers improve human health in terms of the fashion industry?

Answer 6

• recycling
• “going green”
• labour laws

Question 7

How can we as consumers respect human rights in terms of the fashion industry?

Answer 7

• buying garments that are made by people who are not exploited

Question 8

How can we as consumers reduce child labour in terms of the fashion industry?

Answer 8

• labour laws
• be informed and aware

Question 9

What is fair trade?

Answer 9

• trading between companies in developed countries and producers in developing countries

Question 10

How does fair trade work?

Answer 10

• fair prices are paid to the producers
• companies able to provide workers with a stable income
• can improve lives

Question 11

What does fair trade aim to do?

Answer 11

• aims to benefit small-scale farmers and workers through trade
• helps to maintain their livelihoods and reach their potential

Question 12

What do producers choose to do with the premium earned through fair trade?

Answer 12

• building wells
• building hospitals
• buying better farming equipment
• investing in a switch to organic farming

Question 13

What do the Fair Trade Standards require?

Answer 13

• Fair Trade Standards require employers to pay wages that progress towards living wage benchmarks

Question 14

How does buying fair trade help workers in developing countries?

Answer 14

• Fair Trade Standards ensure that Fair Trade workers are provided with a stable income
• this drastically improves opportunities for themselves and their families