Being armed with knowledge and awareness of issues like the real working conditions most garment workers face is only the first step. It’s easy to feel powerless against such a big industry and brands that don’t seem to have any intention to change how their clothing is produced. So, how could one person change any of that?

1. ASK THE BRAND

If there is a brand that is near and dear to your heart, go to it’s website and see what they say about their business practices. If what you find isn’t very clear, you can ask them on social media, email or call. You may not get a response, or what you do get may be a canned reply, but the more people who ask, the more pressure brands feel to be transparent.

2. VOTE WITH YOUR WALLET

How you choose to spend your hard-earned money is one of the most influential ways you can help reshape the fashion industry. It’s not easy to research brands for the details of their supply chain. Mochni wants to help you to find fair fashion brands and sustainable fashion brands through regular stories featuring brand and products and interviews with founders and designers. But also the following resources are starting to emerge to help you make shopping decisions faster.

Project Just does continuous research on brands, conducts consumer surveys and has started a list of approved brands. They are an easy to use resource and a great place to start when considering sustainable, ethical issues and the environmental impact of the clothing you wear. In their (Project Just’s) own words, “Our mission is to transform the fashion industry into a transparent, accountable and sustainable system that celebrates the stories, the people and the resources behind the clothing.”

B Corp’s declaration states that, “We envision a global economy that uses business as a force for good.” Through B Corp’s site, you can Find a B Corp business that has already qualified and been reviewed by B Corporation with stringent criteria. “Individually, B Corps meet the highest standards of verified social and environmental performance, public transparency, and legal accountability, and aspire to use the power of markets to solve social and environmental problems. It doesn’t matter whether you’re an established business or just starting out, they also offer a Pending B Corp status for start-ups to help businesses head in the right direction from the beginning.