behind the swoosh

This post might be thousands of words long examining every issue, every stage and every single damaging aspect of the fashion industry on the planet.

It won’t be. 

The fashion industry is destroying our environment; simple as.

Issues of sustainability though, do not stop at the environment; we must also consider people. This might be the ethical treatment of workers; fair wages and working conditions for example. Unfortunately, the fashion industry does not seem to be to be good at this whole sustainability thing and it is no secret that our industry is responsible for what has been described as ‘slave labour’; poor working conditions in factories, low wages and a general inconsideration for people.

There are many to have been caught out with this kind of inhumane treatment; Nike and GAP for example, and more recently it is Primark and Zara that stand among the accused. It is Nike’s practices, however, that are the best documented example, carrying too, the most damning evidence.

Investigations into the sportswear company began in the 1980’s with issues concerning child labour and dangerous working conditions overseas; but it wasn’t until 1997, after a death in a Nike factory, that the issue was pushed into mainstream and hit the headlines. (Spar, 2002)

The following short film follows Jim Keady, a former American soccer coach and co-founder of Educating for Justice, on his journey into the dark and exploitative world of Nike. Behind the Swoosh is able to give the viewer a real insight into the sweatshop issue and takes us behind the scenes with the lovely people at Nike HQ.

And following in the same vein, The Nike Sweatshop Email;  a genuine conversation between Nike and a rather unsatisfied customer.