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Writer's pictureLeah Campian

The True Cost



Isn't it great to not only have all the choices we enjoy in fashion, but to be able to afford them too? Have you ever wondered how it's possible to buy clothes that are so cheap? Did you ever wonder who made them and if they were fairly compensated for their work or given the sames rights that you and I enjoy under the protection of our labor laws?

To help answer these questions and shed light on some issues you might not have ever considered, the film, The True Cost, takes us into the worlds where our clothes are made. Through this film, you'll have the opportunity to see first-hand the conditions under which the high majority of our clothes are made. What you see will shock you! If we all knew the true cost of the clothes we wear, we would think a lot more about what we buy, from whom we buy it, how much, and how often.

Did you know?...


And it's not biodegradable!

How it impacts your health...

1) Did you know that your skin is the largest organ of your body, with the ability to absorb what it's exposed to, allowing the substance to enter the bloodstream faster than through digestion? That includes clothing!

2) You might know that most of our clothes are made of cotton, but did you know that it is a genetically modified crop that requires constant treatment with pesticides, herbicides, and fungicides?

3) Did you know that the toxins in those chemicals are so strong that brain surgeons and oncologists are seeing higher cases of brain tumors and cancers in pockets of the population that grow this crop and that entire communities are impacted by the rise of mental retardation of their children and other diseases in areas where these cotton fields are tended?

4) Did you know that a company called Monsanto has patented the seed, completely monopolizing the cotton production industry, while making farmers poor and leading to the highest Indian cotton farmer suicide rate in history? The only alternative is organic, non-GMO cotton seed.

How does this...


Lead to this?...


In 2013, 1129 people died in Bangladesh clothes factory collapse

Maybe you believe that you're giving someone a job who wouldn't otherwise have one. That's true, and the film addresses your thought. Maybe you believe that it's not your responsibility to ensure proper working conditions for factory workers. But I believe that we vote with our dollars, and when we purchase clothing from sources we cannot trust, we become irresponsible consumers. We are more than likely contributing to our own individual toxic load, as well as that of other individals involved in the making of the garments, and the environment as well. Fortunately, we have the freedom to choose how we'll vote.

How it impacts your health...


You might think this is nothing unique to fashion or clothing, and I'd agree with that line of thinking. The issue at hand isn't just the large corporations who profit the most and the poor people who give their lives in an effort to make a living, but it's about something even greater: OUR GREED. Because we can have more than we need, we do!

This film really makes you think differently about your approach to fashion, shopping, and consumption. The "fast fashion" industry and most retail marketing has quickly reinforced our desire for more and lead many of us to believe that we won't be happy unless we consume more. This influence to instantly gratify ourselves has lead to a poor ability to delay gratification in our society, and it spills over into all areas of our lives (just like eating!).


Enough from me! It's time to watch the documentary and learn for yourself! Visit my Learning Tools page to purchase the DVD or to download the film immediately. You'll also find some great tools on the film website. By visiting the Buying Better page of www.truecostmovie.com, you'll learn about great tips to becoming a better shopper and even get a list of trusted brands where you can feel good about buying your clothing.



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