Recently, there has been an increase in bills proposed to require sustainability and the rights of garment workers in the fashion industry. If passed, these bills could change what consumers see on their clothing labels and even the design of items. The bills could help finally shift the burden away from shoppers to buy better and less and put it on companies to make better and more sustainable products.

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The Fashioning Accountability and Building Real Institutional Change Act, known as The FABRIC Act, is the first federal fashion bill in the United States. The bill would improve the labor rights of garment workers and shift the American garment manufacturing industry that has long been concentrated offshore. The bill is waiting for assignment to a House committee for study and, unfortunately, could take years before making it to the president.

However, if and when the bill is passed, it could finally end “piece rates,” where workers are paid per item they make, not per hour they work. These workers are also often in places where they are not paid a minimum wage. The bill includes penalties for labor violations and requires record-keeping measures to ensure fair working conditions. The bill would also offer a 30 percent reshoring tax credit scheme to incentivize companies to bring garment manufacturing back to the United States.

The Fashion Sustainability and Social Accountability Act, also known as The Fashion Act, would make New York the first state in the country to finally hold brands accountable for their environmental and social impacts. The bill would require companies that generate more than $100 million in revenues to disclose their supply chains across all production tiers. They would then take the process that they create the most impact on and will then need to reduce those effects like greenhouse gas emissions and chemical use.

The Fashion Worker Act aims to regulate management agencies and provide basic labor protections for models. This includes behind the scene workers like hair and makeup artists and stylists, and influencers. If passed, the act would require agents to pay models and creatives within 45 days of a job. It will also require creatives to be provided with copies of their contracts. The bill will also aim to end agents charging above-market rates for accommodation and commission fees over 20 percent.

Raise awareness while making a fashion statement by wearing sustainable brands like Tiny Rescue. Check out the Climate Change Collection!

The fashion industry has a large carbon footprint and accounts for 10 percent of global human-emitted greenhouse gasses. The environmental impacts of the fashion industry are in addition to the numerous human rights concerns regarding the treatment of textile workers in factories across the globe.

We need to preserve our planet! 13 million tons of clothes end up in our landfills, and fast fashion has changed the way that we think about clothes. It’s always best to recycle clothes and go to second-hand or thrift stores when looking for new clothing. The recent boom in secondhand clothing is reducing fashion’s impact on the planet and showing that secondhand shoppers are eco-conscious and savvy, not just “hipsters”!

Read more about eco-friendly fashion and goods on One Green Planet. Check out these articles:

• 10 Fashion Brands That are Helping the Environment
• Your Guide to Cruelty-Free Clothing
• Fashion is the 2nd Largest Water Polluter in the World! How to Reduce Your Clothing Footprint
• Look Great: Your Guide to Vegan-Friendly Shopping
• How to Recycle Clothes

Related Content:

• Giving Back is the New Luxury: Fashion 4 Development’s Efforts to Promote Positive Change
• I Don’t Want It To Look Like Sustainable Fashion: Stella McCartney Debuted Grape Leather and Regenerative Cotton at Paris Catwalk Show
• The Future of Fashion is Circular. Here‘s What You Need to Know!
• 8 Zero-Waste Circular Brands Saving The Planet From Fast Fashion Pollution
• How the Fast Fashion Industry Destroys the Environment

Easy Ways to Help the Planet:

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• Do What You Can: Reduce waste, plant trees, eat local, travel responsibly, reuse stuff, say no to single-use plastics, recycle, vote smart, switch to cold water laundry, divest from fossil fuels, save water, shop wisely, Donate if you can, grow your own food, volunteer, conserve energy, compost, and don’t forget about the microplastics and microbeads lurking in common household and personal care products!