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Sunday, 22 January 2017

Mini Film Review: The True Cost

This is definitely a movie to watch if buying shoes and clothes are your thing, you're wanting to give it up and you're finding it difficult.  It's also a good movie to watch if you're trying to go more ethical with your clothing.

It starts by looking at how the fashion has changed from local or home made, long lasting clothes to a whirlwind of cheap, throw away items which change seasonally and are made many miles away.  While this has been cheap and cheerful for us, the cost for other people and the environment has increased dramatically.

The film travels around the world showing the stark difference between the glittering, glamorous, shiny world of the catwalks to the slums and working conditions of those who actually produce the products.  There are interviews with leading individuals in the fashion industry, fashion journalists, individuals who run the sweatshops, those most affected by the negative impact it's having and the individuals who are trying to make a difference.  While I was aware of these issues before, seeing them in this way helped solidify in my mind that I was wanting to take a more ethical choice with my clothing.

The only slightly negative thing I would say about this documentary is that, while it does talk about the impact the fashion industry is having on our environment, it looks at it from a very human context without showing the impact it also has on the local ecosystems in their own right.  However, I completely understand this route as it's likely to have the most impact for the most number of people.

This movie is available on Amazon, YouTube, iTunes, and Netflix so it's easy to find and watch and it's a good little reminder, every time you pick up an item to buy, to ask 'where does the true cost of this product lie?'

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