Fashion Photos Against Social Injustice (Slideshow)

Style Quotidien, an online fashion magazine, recently released a new photo series focused on the disconnect between wealthy consumers and third world factory workers. The series, “Balance of Power,” was shot by photographer and environmental artist Olivier Rieu, and aims to draw attention to unsustainable consumer demand and the perils of cheap mass production of goods.

The magazine describes:

“There is such a disconnect when we walk into a clean and pretty store to buy the items so artfully displayed in the window. Would we feel as comfortable with our purchases if we had to stare directly into the eyes of the underpaid, hungry and tired workers who made them?”

In order to highlight this incongruity, the photos are shot in the style of a fashion photo shoot—but with the uncomfortable, inhumane history of the clothes’ production present in the background.

Click through to view photos from “Balance of Power.”

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Disclaimer: The views expressed above are solely those of the author and may not reflect those of
Care2, Inc., its employees or advertisers.

Heidi H.

3:48AM PDT on Sep 16, 2012

You don't know where your clothes are made. In order for a designer to claim their clothes were made in a fair trade or European country, they just need to have the garment sent to these countries where the garment will be stitched with a couple of stitches and the label can legally read: Made in ____. It hides the real truth of the garment's manufacture as that of being in a place where the workers are underpaid or exploited.

September 16
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Nicole G.

12:21PM PDT on Sep 4, 2012

I think it's an interesting idea, but it really didn't seem that powerful image wise to me.

September 4
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Khairieh A.

4:16PM PDT on Aug 13, 2012

If the people working in sweat shops had better opportunities then they would not be there, of course it is not just but the answer is not buying expensive clothes where the gap between the workers and sellers is even bigger... at this point, without being aware of organised labor by the workers themselves, I have no answer.

August 13
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Rachel R.

6:47PM PDT on Aug 5, 2012

I think these are great! My problem is that it is so hard to find clothes that really are "fair-trade" (or whatever the right word is). Even quite expensive clothes from swanky shops are usually poorly made in China or similar.

August 5
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heather g.

1:37AM PDT on Jul 28, 2012

I think these photos do make an impact - I'm just surprised that they appear in a Fashion Mag. ..... almost like shooting yourself in the foot.

The vast majority of these comments seem to be from people who sew their own clothes at home.
Oh - I'm mistaken .....
What they are doing is that they refusing to believe that people in China working long hours in sweatshops producting clothing that they wear - are paid a living wage. Don't fool yourself!

July 28
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Gloria H.

5:53PM PDT on Jul 26, 2012

so...what about people who buy Walmart, Target,Sears , Macy's, clothing? most of it is imported too.
Even the cheap chain footwear stores ( we who are able bodied still need shoes)..have all made in China products.
So that would make not only the wealthy, but the middle class, the low class tied into buying imported slave labor products.

July 26
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Vladimir M.

4:02PM PDT on Jul 26, 2012

all staged! I will never belive those models ,the spoiled primadonas would ever go to some "sweat shop" to do a photo session. Not even the PETA idiots!

Bernd F.

2:05PM PDT on Jul 26, 2012

The photographer and the art director surelly think this is art (I am an advertising photographer myself) but I see pure S&%T!!!

Marianne B.

9:34AM PDT on Jul 26, 2012

Have seen these photos in the past. Too bad it doesn't make the consumer more aware of what is really happening with those in sweatshops earning little to make their high priced goods. Do they really care? I think not, and it's a shame.