Fashion is a fickle industry and no more so to those whose lives are dictated by it, even though they don't actually wear the clothes. Developing countries who house factories that produce either the clothes themselves or the raw materials and fabrics that comprise the clothing generally don't see the haute couture end of the business, just the sweat and struggle that goes into making expendable clothing.

Fashion changes each season. What was "in" and "Hot" last season is generally not so now. To keep up with the demands of this constantly rotating attraction fashion labels have to produce clothing quickly and cheaply. After all, today's highly sought after fashion item is tomorrow's polishing cloth, so keeping a high turnover is essential and requires producing clothes in countries where output is high and wages are low.

Developing countries don't have the same stringent worker wages and rights as western countries so paying them very little in the way of wages and benefits is considered an acceptable way of conducting business. By purchasing products from companies that accept and perpetuate those conditions consumers are implicit in the trade themselves. After all trade isn't just between countries, it's between individuals and responsibility is passed all along the line.

Fair Trade is a concept that recognizes that people in developing countries have a right to fair wages and benefits from companies that use their labor. You can find the Fair Trade concept at work in coffee, gifts and chocolate. Fair Trade is also being enacted in the clothing industry and thankfully there are also fashion houses and designers that believe in this ethical tenant as well.

People Tree is often mentioned as being at the forefront of the fair trade fashion movement and with good reason. They have dedicated themselves to educating consumers and those within the fashion industry about fair trade for many years. There are also local fashion designers who are now using fair trade practices in their business models. You can generally find them online by searching for "Fair Trade Clothing".