The True Cost

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Sarah C The True Cost is an intentionally crafted documentary that challenges the very fabric the American economic system stands on. Four Main Points offered by the film are: that the whole consumer capitalism economic system and how it operates is broken, how the impacts of the fast fashion industry on the environment are extremely harmful, how worker rights are completely neglected because only profit is measured, and how there are meaningful efforts/companies aiming to make a change. In regard to capitalism, the film states a powerful quote, saying, "will we be satisfied with a system that makes us feel rich while leaving our world so desperately poor?" In our current system, rich companies have discovered that they are able to yield the greatest income by manufacturing their products in low-income economies. They are able to choose which poverty-stricken countries they would like to violate, and once they deplete the resources and livelihood of one country, they simply move on to the next. In the 1960s, America was making 95% of its own clothing. Today, that number is down to 3%. Fashion companies are moving ruthlessly towards producing without any consideration for how this is facilitated. When focusing on sustainability, the movie details the toxic behaviors of overconsumption and how fast fashion is tied simultaneously to both the environment and social world. The documentary showed a clip of Jos A. Bank suits, saying they were so cheap that one could feel good about throwing them away. A powerful quote relating to this idea is, "consumptionism is all about getting people to treat the things they use as the things they use up." Despite this idea, fashion should never be disposable. Most clothing waste is non-biodegradable and is left for landfills, where it emits toxic gases into the environment. When considering how worker rights are dismissed, it is important to recall the moving moments and individuals featured in the film. The movie details a factory incident called the Rana Plaza collapse. In this tragedy, over 1,000 garment factory workers were killed, and over 2,000 were injured. Prior to the building breaking down, several workers voiced concerns about cracks in the walls and ceiling, but were simply ignored. It is a disturbing pattern to note that as the death numbers rise, so do profits. The documentary spends a great deal of time focusing on Shima, a garment worker and mother from Bangladesh who is faced with some extremely difficult and inhumane decisions throughout the film. Shima describes how she attempted to advocate for better working conditions and for more worker rights, which led to her being physically harmed. A really tough decision Shima is forced to make is leaving her daughter in the care of another family so that she can receive an education. Shima feels sadness and guilt towards her decision, but hopes that one day her daughter will not have to work in a garment factory and will be set up for a better life than hers. When we focus on meaningful efforts, it is important to recognize and commend individuals like Safia, a worker rights activist and the owner of a free trade, sustainable clothing company called "People Tree." Individuals who are like-minded to Safia are making headway in the progression towards the safer, more equitable production of apparel. As someone who has tended to overconsume clothing and shoes, this film was something I didn't know I needed to see. I can say that going forward, I will be naturally more curious as to where my clothing is produced and what hands they had to fall into to reach me. I will be more cautious of the harmful behaviors of overindulging and the twisted mind games companies use to manipulate buyers. The True Cost is a meaningful, educational film that I would recommend to anyone with a connection to the consumer world. Rated 4/5 Stars •  Rated 4 out of 5 stars 04/21/25 Full Review Audience Member It's incredibly informative. Using experts from every branch of the fashion industry to speak into the issue. It doesn't come off as a heavy bias film either as Andrew Morgan admits that he knew nothing of the problems when he went into making the film. Being heavily informative and not biased, it causes those who watch to take action. Rated 5/5 Stars •  Rated 5 out of 5 stars 01/25/23 Full Review Audience Member Excellent documentary film about the social and environmental impact of the cheap fast fashion industry. Rated 5/5 Stars •  Rated 5 out of 5 stars 02/17/23 Full Review Audience Member Human and environmental concerns. Changing the way I think about and buy clothes. Rated 3.5/5 Stars •  Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 05/13/18 Full Review Audience Member A must watch for anyone who weaRs clothes Rated 5/5 Stars •  Rated 5 out of 5 stars 01/13/23 Full Review Audience Member If you're closet is overflowing, then this is a much watch for you. Rated 4/5 Stars •  Rated 4 out of 5 stars 02/24/23 Full Review Read all reviews

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