BBC World Service has launched a radio series on the exploration of the real costs of cotton...

and coffee - via workers' stories at each stage of the production chain.

The radio program gives a clear insight in how unfair trade still can be, around common goods like coffee & cotton. "The cheap white t-shirt is a staple in many people's wardrobes, but what is the real cost of this bargain?”

To find out, the programme followed the journeys of goods from the farm to the shop floor, to track back the real costs of cheap cotton.

"As shoppers consume ever larger amounts of clothing, are they really taking into account the cost paid by workers back down the production chain?”

On the way we are guided by industry experts. They make clear to the listeners how surprising it still is, most consumers don't really think about the background of their products, despite globalisation. “When they start thinking, they do learn”.

At the end of the journey, one expert states: “think a little bit about some of the budget clothing that's just so incredibly cheap. How could it be produced so cheap? The answer is that it's just not sustainable. The way it's produced, is ultimately gonna cost someone somewhere. Cost in human lives, cost in misery, community and environmental degradation. And down the line, we are all gonna feel that costs...”.

You can listen, download or Podcast the show on the BBC website (top-right section).

It's right this story, covered by BBC, that lead to the founding of Kuyichi jeans wear. Being Fair. Being Real. It's our philosophy.

Before Kuychi was started in 2001, the initiators already booked success with the Fair Trade coffee program “Max Havelaar” and Oké Bananas.

This entry was posted on Thursday, May 3rd, 2007 at 2:56 pm and is filed under Conscious, Eco, Fair Trade, Fashion, Media, Organic, Style_Conscious. If you really want to, you can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.