By Behind the shiny exteriors and glossy magazine advertisements of American fashion brands hides some disturbing truths. Communities like those in Pandumaan-Sipituhuta in Northern Sumatra, featured in the short film below by Handcrafted Films, are being harmed by the production of clothing sold by big name companies like Ralph Lauren, Abercrombie & Fitch, and other companies in RAN’s ‘Fashion 15.’
The clothing we buy is driving the destruction of the forests of Pandumaan-Sipituhuta, and decimating the way the communities there have supported themselves for 17 generations.
Here’s how the destruction of benzoin forests in Indonesia becomes part of our clothing:
We need to tell fashion companies that this sort of destruction is totally unacceptable. Some companies have already stepped up as leaders; H&M, Zara, Stella McCartney and others have already taken action and publically committed to eliminating rainforest destruction from their fabrics.
The Out of Fashion campaign is working for change on the ground in Pandumaan-Sipithuta, and to change the whole system. We need to tell fashion companies that they are responsible for their supply chains, and they must demand change at every level. For our Fashion 15, this means demanding changes from Toba Pulp Lestari (the producer), Sateri (the processor), and Royal Golden Eagle (the company that owns Sateri).
