WHERE WE ARE

Companies like Burt’s Bees have expanded consumer awareness of natural beauty products, and for most of us, tastes in fashion seem to have shifted permanently away from fur and ivory. But it is just the beginning. The personal care business is enormous, as are the fashion and fabrics industries. We have grown accustomed to very low prices, but no one consciously sets out to purchase something made in a sweatshop or with child labor, nor do we buy sheets, pillows, blankets, and furniture expecting to be exposed to harsh dyes and chemicals.

WHERE WE ARE GOING

As consumers begin to pay more attention to where and how their personal care products, jewelry, clothing, and fabrics are made, socially irresponsible and environmentally unsustainable practices, along with unhealthy product standards, will be exposed. Issues of human rights and international justice will bring the days of cheap, environmentally damaging cotton and other materials to an end, and increased awareness of the dangers of various bleaches, dyes, and synthetic materials will reshape what we consider beautiful.