Get Involved
“Dear brothers and sisters, how greatly I desire that all those places where
the Church is present, especially our parishes and our communities, may become islands of mercy in the midst of the sea of indifference!"
-Pope Francis
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Talk to your friends and family.
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Consider alternatives. Shop Fair Trade, local, and/or second-hand, thrift stores. Have a clothing swap party!
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Write to clothing companies sourcing in Bangladesh. Encourage them to join the Bangladesh Accord or Alliance.
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Start asking companies. Raise questions about the working conditions and wages of garment workers. Use the “Contact Us” link on company web sites and on social media (Facebook/Twitter, etc.) Ask, "Who made my clothes?"
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Look up companies and see how they rate
in ethical, sustainable business practices on-line. Some helpful guides available online are Ethical Consumer, Good Guide, and Ethical Fashion Forum.
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Investigate the sourcing policies of your school or organization's apparel committees. Find out whether the items sold are fairly sourced.
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For more resources, check out the Clean Clothes Campaign, Fashion Revolution, and War on Want.
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Bring the campaign to your community, parish, or school! Contact us for more information.
Our globalized economy makes us an unintended yet unavoidable contributors to this tragic and unjust situation. As Catholics, we are called by the Gospel and by our Holy Father to become educated and act responsibly on this issue. The St. Vincent Pledge is a promise and a commitment by Catholic individuals, families, faith communities, organizations and institutions to live our Catholic Social Teachings to making the needs of the people who are poor and vulnerable a priority.
I/We Pledge to:
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PRAY for the cultivation of solidarity between the consumers of clothing with the people who produce them in order to create sustainable communities through a more just economy
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LEARN about and educate others on the real consequences (both negative and positive) of globalized supply chains, especially in the clothing industry
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ASSESS how we-as individuals and in our families, faith communities and places of employment -are able to confront the “globalization of indifference” in the clothing industry by taking greater responsibility for the unintended consequences of our behavior as consumers
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ACT to change our choices and behaviors as consumers to improve the lives of the people who make our clothing and other goods in the global economy
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ADVOCATE for Catholic principles, priorities, and values with retailers, brand owners and government bodies concerning the wages and working conditions of the people who make our clothing.