Fashion followers to pay tribute to Bangladeshi disaster victims

Fashion lovers in more than 48 countries are being asked to wear an item of clothing inside out, take a selfie and share it on social media with the hashtag #insideout on Thursday, the first anniversary of the Rana Plaza disaster in Bangladesh.

It is part of Fashion Revolution Day supported by organisations such as the Clean Clothes Campaign, Greenpeace and Fairtrade International to raise awareness of the real cost of mass-market clothing. It is spearheaded by celebrities Cate Blanchett and Emma Watson.

On Grafton Street, Dublin, a structure will commemorate those who lost their lives in one of the world's deadliest industrial accidents in which 1,133 people died, more than 2,500 were injured and 800 children orphaned.

Grim conditions
The tragedy highlighted the grim conditions of low-paid workers in this poor nation of 155 million where the minimum wage is just €49 a month.

Those manufacturing in the country not only include cheaper brands such as Tesco and H&M, but high-end labels such as Armani, Hugo Boss and Ralph Lauren.

The tragedy left many survivors destitute. In Bangladesh, the garment industry is a powerful force employing four million and representing about 80 per cent of its exports. Europe is its main market.

Building safety and labour laws fall short of international standards. To date a legally binding accord on building safety covering some 1,500 factories has been signed by 150 brands including H&M, Zara and Primark.

A scheme backed by the International Labour Organisation to compensate the victims of the tragedy has raised just €10 million, a fraction of the estimated €48 million target and only half of the 28 brands linked to the complex have paid into the fund.

Financial help
Primark was first into the country after the tragedy to meet survivors and their families and to date has committed more than $12 million (€9 million) in compensation and financial assistance. Primark is beginning payment of long-term compensation totalling $9 million to the 580 workers in its supplier.

Many other big retailers have not paid up or paid low amounts into separate schemes, which are not legally binding.

A report in the Wall Street Journal stated that doubling the minimum wage would only add about 10-12 cents to the cost of making a T-shirt.

A recent Global Poverty Project/YouGov survey in the UK noted that some 74 per cent of adults aged over 18 said they would be happy to pay an extra 5 per cent if a garment was made in safe and healthy working conditions with a fair wage.