Responsible fashion? a story of ecology?

Eco-conscious collections, eco-friendly or recycling: the ecological awareness of fashion brands is now growing and brands have understood it very well. But is it enough to define oneself as "ethical" or "responsible"?

At Elia, we are convinced that being a responsible brand does not only mean offering products that are said to be ecological or made of recycled materials... We explain to you why today.

We sometimes forget that there are real people behind our clothes...

One of the symbols of the abuse of fast-fashion is of course the collapse of the factory in Rana Plaza in 2013 where more than 1130 people died. This factory was making clothes for big brands that we all know.

It should be noted that the main victims of this industry are women. Indeed, they represent 85% of the workers in the textile factories. They are paid a pittance and work in deplorable conditions.

We also hear a lot about the exploitation of the Uyghurs in the news in recent years. This people who are persecuted and repressed in China are also reduced to slavery, which benefits the textile industry. Indeed, 20% of cotton production is done in the Xinjiang region (region where Uyghurs are mostly present. Cotton is one of the main materials used to make our clothes. Thus, all stages of the supply chain can result from forced labor of Uyghurs.

Several NGOs have called on the textile industry to stop sourcing from the Xinjiang region and countries have decided to stop importing goods that are potentially the result of forced labor.

What about our health?

Polyester, polyamide, non organic cotton... All these synthetic materials are not without danger! Some of these materials are derived from oil. Cotton (non organic) is cultivated with GMO and is treated with pesticides. In addition to polluting the soil, it is therefore very harmful to our health, but also for that of the producers. As you can imagine, the making of a garment is done in several steps. And during these different steps, many processes use chemicals... Hence the importance of knowing the materials of our clothes, and the treatment of them! That's why we have chosen to offer menstrual panties that are perfectly adapted and healthy for the bodies of menstruating women and people.

Modeling: a mirror of our society's demands?

We also think that to be responsible, it is to seize the problems of society. Indeed, the problem with modeling today is that it participates in the cult of thinness. Even if many brands are now starting to be more inclusive by showing all types of women, many brands only swear by one body type and skin color and use excessive retouching. By the way, Victoire Dauxerre talks about this very well in the podcast Nouveau Modèle, "former model never skinny enough".

So even if, of course, it is a big step that big brands start to propose more responsible collections in terms of ecologicalBut we still invite you to find out what you are buying, how and especially by whom your clothes are produced.

At Elia, we bet on transparency and Made In France. Moreover, you can find all the information about our production, our materials, our labels and certifications!