World News for Students of English

09-10-2023 15:00

In the world of luxury fashion, India plays a significant, but often hidden, role in the production process.

Despite the industry’s focus on high quality, exclusivity, and European craftsmanship, many luxury fashion houses rely on India for skilled labor and embroidery work. This connection has been concealed for years to maintain a certain image and avoid concerns about working conditions.

While Western luxury brands proudly display ‘Made in France’ or ‘Made in Italy’ labels, much of the intricate embroidery and labor-intensive work is actually done in India. This lack of transparency has raised questions about the ethics of the fashion industry. One example is a jacket that retails for 43,000 Euros and underwent over 2,000 hours of embroidery work in India; however, it received less than 100 hours of finishing touches in Europe, despite bearing a ‘Made in France’ label.

Despite these practices, some luxury brands are beginning to acknowledge their Indian suppliers and promote India’s artisanal legacy. However, it remains a complex issue in an industry built on exploitation and secrecy.

Difficult words: exclusivity (the quality of being limited to rich people), embroidery (decorating fabric or other materials with needle and thread, often creating intricate designs), artisanal (made traditionally).

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