Summary of La ropa que llevamos | DW Documental

00:00:00 - 00:25:00

The documentary discusses the problems with the clothing industry, from the perspective of both the environment and the people who work in the industry. It discusses how clothing is produced, how it is sold, and how it is used. It also discusses how the industry is changing, and how we can make it more sustainable.

• 00:00:00 In this video, DW reporter introduces a new store, Primark, that sells environmentally friendly and sustainable clothing. Protests against the high cost of these clothes and the environmental impact of clothing production are shown outside the store. Inside, customers can buy inexpensive but stylish clothes, and the store's relationship between price and quality is praised. The experiment of giving away clothing but charging for it is also shown. A family in Bangladesh is shown with 520 kilograms of water-stained clothing because of the way they dress. The reporter sums up the video by saying that, although some clothes may not be practical for everyday use, they are environmentally sustainable if taken into account over the course of a lifetime.
• 00:05:00 The documentary, La ropa que llevamos, focuses on the dangers of clothing factories and the lack of safety measures that are in place due to the cheap price of clothing. The documentary visits a textile factory near the capital of Dhaka, Bangladesh. The factory produces items for brands such as H&M and Sara. All of the items are in accordance with environmental standards prescribed here, which has been invested in a great deal. However, the only way they are told is to produce clothing ecologically is through certification from a single factory. We visit a tintery near the capital, Dhaka, and the company produces among other things, for H&M and Sara. All is according to environmental standards as prescribed, but this is the only way they are told. Our own part is to work thinking of the future generations. Ranking Cómodas, a fashion brand, has modernized its installation to purify water instead of pouring dirty water into the river, which they claim is filtration. We visit the rivers of Dhaka and Doubt, and we are doubtful. We are in the midst of the third war of the world and we meet Chamín, a fisherman, and his team. They are the last
• 00:10:00 This video presents an interview with a economist who has researched the textile industry in Bangladesh, and finds that there are only a few factories that are in compliance with environmental standards. One of the problems these factories face is that when a customer requests a garment that is not in stock, the factory usually obliges and orders the garment from the supplier that is not in compliance. This creates a conflict of interest for the factory, as it is more profitable to operate in a non-compliant manner. The owner of the factory has a solution to this problem, which is to close their contract with the other factory and take their orders from the one that is compliant.
• 00:15:00 The clothing we wear is being made with more and more toxic chemicals, and it's causing a big problem. This documentary follows a family as they try to figure out what to do about it. They visit a factory that's been closed for environmental violations, but it seems like it's not doing anything. They still have to wash and return to Germany, and we need to see if this trick is going to work before we can be sure. They receive a message from the factory that it's closed apparently, but they claim it's okay. They give us the name of the manufacturers with which they will sign the contract. Their name is "Sam," and this is the good company that supposedly has a clean certification. They are registered with the Textile Federation, and they meet all labor and environmental requirements on their website. They also have international customers, including Taco and Austin Family. The alleged factory we visited in Bangladesh is mentioned as one of their clients. The trap works, and we ask for a budget for 5,000 pants. We mention the company we visited in Bangladesh, and they explain how the trap works. Jan Six Family writes us according to sworn declarations from both the importer and the supplier that Sting Family products are only tanned and processed in certified
• 00:20:00 The video discusses the trend of decreasing prices for clothing, and the effect this has on the industry. It goes on to discuss how retailers in Germany, such as H&M, are forced to reduce prices in order to compete. In Bangladesh, a textile manufacturer, the owner has been working in the industry for 30 years, and says that, since 2000, the industry has doubled its revenue. This is due to the constant introduction of new collections and offers by fashion brands, from concept to production, across Europe. However, in Germany, days of production have decreased to 12 or 14 per year, meaning that the major fashion brands, such as Zara, are able to present 24 collections per year. This has led to increased pressure on the garment industry in general, and in Germany, the responsibility lies with retail centers, where the major brands offer constantly new collections and new offers. This has led to a decrease in the purchasing power of German consumers, and as a result, the industry has seen a doubling of its revenue from 2000 to 2014. However, according to eurostat, clothing prices have decreased by 2% over the past year. The brands interviewed say that they do not pay their workers in Bangladesh as much as they used to, and that the prices for
• 00:25:00 In this documentary, DW discusses how much clothing we buy every year, and how much is produced. They say that even though we may not be buying as much clothing as we used to, it still exists in abundance. They also say that one way to reduce the amount of clothing we buy is to give it more value and to recycle it. This could be done by buying less and throwing away less, or by giving clothing a second chance by re-selling it.