If you are a fan of distressed denim, it is time to go hunting for second hand rather than buying new in order to get the vintage look.

NGOs have been attacking the sandblasting of new denim and lobbying for this particular trend to fall out of fashion due to the little known human and environmental cost.

Spearheaded by the Clean Clothes Campaign, labour organisations around the world are calling for a ban on sandblasting – a technique used to to get the vintage look.

The technique is simple: load an airblaster with sand, silicon or any other fine grit; then unleash a pressurised barrage onto the denim.  Sandblasting is certainly profitable for whoever runs the dust-filled workshop – the hidden cost is borne by the workers.

Shockingly, 5,000+ workers in the Turkish textile industry have been struck down with silicosis – an occupational form of respiratory disease, primarily seen in 16th century miners. 46 people are known to have died and Turkey’s government banned the practice in March ’09. However, workers in China, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Mexico and Egypt have no such protection.

Now NGO’s are calling on governments to ban imports of these products. So far Levi’s and H&M have announced they will stop selling sandblasted jeans for this reason – will the others follow?
Source: Ethical Consumer