Author Rachel Louise Snyder teaches students responsible consumerism

Students might want to think twice and check the clothing label before purchasing a new pair of jeans.

This was a main topic that radio commentator and author Rachel Louise Snyder touched upon Thursday in her presentation, "Globalization: Manufacturing, Sweatshops, Development/Aid Work and Ethical Consumerism." Author of Fugitive Denim: A Moving Story of People and Pants in the Borderless World of Global Trade, Snyder brought her findings from years of extensive research and travel to UCF Thursday at 3 p.m. in the Cape Florida Ballroom of the Student Union.

In her lecture, Snyder explained that Cambodia has become known as an exemplary case on the global stage as a sweatshop-free Third World country. Snyder cited that as many as 2 million people in Cambodia live off of the garment industry, where major buyers including Levi's, Gap and Disney have had their products manufactured.

Unfortunately, not all countries can boast this sweatshop-free title. When Snyder surveyed how many in the audience wore jeans, at least half raised their hands. She then explained that jeans, the American staple, may have gone through several countries to form the finished product millions of people enjoy on a daily basis.

"Your labels are lying to you," Snyder said. "In an inch of cotton, you may have four or five countries."

Cotton, a fabric worn on a daily basis, presents problems of its own.

For a crop that is notoriously hard to grow and incredibly in-demand, there is a constant push for more insecticides, as better chemicals yield larger crops.

"The average pair of jeans can contain three-quarters of a pound of pesticides," Snyder said.

According to her, organic cotton may not be the solution to the chemical overload. These crops require more water and land to grow, and normally yield crops that are lower in quality when compared to the average crop of cotton.

Fueling the garment industry and its strides for the most efficient practices is consumerism.

"In 1975, the average American woman owned one pair of jeans," Snyder said. "Today, she owns eight."

When discussing consumerism, Snyder urged the audience to ask themselves if they really needed a piece of clothing before purchasing. By adjusting shopping habits, wearing clothes longer, and swapping clothes with friends—a UK trend known as "swishing"—consumers can become less wasteful.

Humanities major Katiuska Torres was impacted by Snyder's ideas about consumerism.

"I went in to the presentation thinking that she would stop me from purchasing in certain places," the senior said. "[Instead,] she made me think about moderation and the quantity of what I buy."

Torres, who thought she had been label-conscious before, was astonished that companies could get away with mislabeling.

"They're not telling you where your garment is from in the end," she said. "I'm already interested in the clothing; why not tell me exactly where it comes from?"

Like Torres, senior Maria Rios entered the presentation expecting to change the stores she shops at. After Snyder spoke, the senior was impacted more by who was producing her clothes, rather than the stores they are housed in.

"I was surprised by the lack of protective equipment for workers," the international global studies major said.

Companies are starting to recognize these global issues and are beginning to take more corporate responsibility. Retailers are now revealing factory details on clothing company websites, a practice that Snyder said was unheard of years ago.

Major retailers like Target and Wal-Mart are beginning to use organic materials in their clothing. Others, like outdoor clothing retailer, Patagonia, are starting to take the initiative by vowing to use only recycled materials in the future.

Is there a quick fix to the growing equation of consumerism, globalization and ethical consumerism? Snyder says definitely not, but there is hope.