No, not at all. And it really isn’t a big deal. Sometimes we talk about sustainability and stuff, but I will not tell anybody how they have to live their lives. I believe that everybody has to define their own choices and live with them and I respect that. Nevertheless I am happy, if someone is interested or is telling me about his first sustainable clothing choice or whatever.
Am I a bad person if I buy a t-shirt from H&M?
No, definitely not! And I really think it is stupid to blame the costumer. As a Designer I wish for costumers to read and inform themselves about their purchases in order to make an ethical choice. But I do understand, that it is difficult.
It takes quite a lot of time to research and read. Plus the sustainable brands have to be found in the internet, since not many of them can be seen in shopping malls, or somewhere near there. So it really takes a lot of effort to buy ethical and I can understand, that not everybody takes the time to stroll through the internet and all of the green-washed and green concepts, before buying something as simple as a T-Shirt. With AETHIC we make finding and defining ethical consumption choices easier. We have a platform collecting information about ethical standards and a part where we show ethical shops and brands. This way it becomes easier for the interested costumer to get informed.
Can I buy clothing from H&M and from you without contradicting myself?
Life is a contradiction in itself and nothing can be done for 100%. So of course, if you want to make a change or simply like the product just try buying ethical every now and then. You can still buy from H&M, of course. It is your choice to define the mixture. And there will not be any form of “ethical fashion police“ beating you up, if you bought ethical fashion once and go to H&M afterwards, I promise. At least you gave it a try and that is good.
“Ethical fashion is for everyone,
not only the vegan slow-food-yoga-hippie.”
Will you like me (as an example of someone you know) less if I buy from H&M / ZARA?
Oh gosh. No. As I said earlier, I do not think bad of someone based on their consumption habits. I am happy to talk about slow fashion, if you are interested, but I will not look down or missionize anybody. I believe respect for other people is most important and looking eye to eye (auf einer Augenhöhe) to each other. I think it is kind of sad, that the impression of ethical fashion often is, that the people behind it look down on others. That is not the case!
