8 - A just transition for everyone

The struggle for a worker-led just transition in fashion is an intersectional one. Discrimination and exploitation are shaped by multiple forms of oppression including gender, sexuality, caste, race, place of origin, maternity and pregnancy, religion or belief, disability - and more. Home-based, migrant, hostel and informal workers also experience different challenges and forms of exploitation from other workers.

These factors combine to produce different forms of exploitation and discrimination for workers and activists. People may face language barriers, reduced access to education, support networks and social protection. Marginalised groups may also be on the receiving end of harassment and experience legal discrimination and lower wages. These factors directly affect people’s ability to act, to speak out for fear of retribution or to be resilient to environmental change.

Fashion brands may paint a rosy picture of their diversity and inclusion policies, but they cash in on exploitative dynamics and the marginalisation of different identities and culture.

There is a need to gather more data about how these intersecting factors increase the ill effects from climate and ecological change, which will be worse if the transition is driven by corporate power.