Pressemeldungen - Unternehmensverantwortung & Lieferkettengesetz 08 August 2019 Live better without Primark - Creative promotions and dress swap party for the opening of the fashion giant Bonn. The Fair Trade Town Bonn is richer by one consumer temple. On 13.08. the fashion giant Primark opens in front of the main station with cheap clothes on 8000m2. But really cheap here is only the business model: What the commodity actually costs people and the environment, the prices do not reflect. FEMNET and Bonn im Wandel call on the day of the opening to talk about mass consumption and the future of the city. More than 20 organisations are already supporting the campaign ‘Better living without Primark’. The Alliance's appeal is against waste, pollution and human rights violations. With information stands and changing clothes, FEMNET and Bonn are showing that things can be different. From 10 a.m., visitors can expect a colourful program in Poststraße. Politicians, organisations and citizens are invited to join the “Live better without Primark-Talk” and talk about better concepts of urban development. No to the ramifications of the city, people and raw materials ‘Fast fashion is an attractive business for manufacturers’ brands alone. As long as they are not liable for exploitation and environmental damage, they outsource the real costs of their mode of production to society. By the way, they are crowding out owner-managed retail, also here in Bonn," says Katharina Edinger, public relations officer for the women’s rights organisation FEMNET. In 2018, Primark generated a profit of approximately EUR 937 million in its operating business. The seamstresses of their clothes dine them with a starvation wage: For a t-shirt for 10 euros, their wage share is about 6 cents. Livelihood-enhancing wages are feasible, but the fashion giants deliberately continue to focus on low-cost production and short-lived trends. ‘I am not blaming the young people standing in line here,’ says Gesa Maschkowski, CEO of Bonn im Wandel e.V. ‘They are doing exactly what influencers pretend to them and persuade advertising psychologists. We can inform you, but the course will be set elsewhere. From well-paid managers in corporate headquarters. And through urban development, which continues to fuel mass consumption.” Sustainable urban development "If we want to motivate Bonners to consume sustainably, then we must also create opportunities for this," says Maschkowski. For example, by promoting sharing and upcycling initiatives, loan boutiques and sewing workshops. There are more than enough beautiful clothes and raw materials for little money. What this can look like, the organizations show when changing clothes: You start with a nice basic stock of clothes, which the volunteers of Zentrallager Sachspenden Bonn, ZESABO have selected. Better living without Primark and Co - that's possible. Press release 08.08.2019 (PDF file) Contact: Katharina Edinger, Press and Public Relations Officer, FEMNET e.V., Kaiser-Friedrich-Straße 11, 53113 Bonn E-mail This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., Tel. 0175-8465560 Gesa Maschkowski, Executive Board, Bonn im Wandel e.V., Dornheckenstraße 3, 53227 Bonn Email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. Further information: Background articles with numbers and links on the topic: “Disposable clothes from Primark and Co in the UN city of Bonn - that's better!” Call for the "Better life without Primark" campaign (PDF file) Background on the clothing industry: www.femnet.de Dossier: Fast Fashion – A review in 3 parts (Christian Initiative Romero e.V.) Supporters of the call: (as of 07.08.2019, updated list under www.bonnimwandel.de) Bonn Network for Development; Bonnopoly choir; BUND Jugend NRW, Local Group Bonn; The Left of Bonn; Evangelical Students Community ESG Bonn; Extinction Rebellion Bonn; Women's Network for Peace e.V.; Germanwatch e.V.; Green Youth of Bonn; International Women's Centre Bonn e.V. ifz; Jusos Bonn; Council of Catholics Bonn; Catholic Women's Community of the City Dean's Office Bonn; Climate watch Bonn; Ecology Unit of the AStA of the University of Bonn; Rhizom e.V. Bonn; Steering group Fair Trade Town Bonn; Terre des hommes, Bonn Group; Weltladen Bonn e.V.; ZERO Waste Bonn; The Volunteers of ZESABO and others. About the initiators: FEMNET e.V. Based in Bonn, Germany, it opposes the exploitation of women in the clothing industry of the Global South and calls on companies to ensure human rights in production. Bonn im Wandel e.V. This is the Bonn Transition Initiative. We are the idea and project laboratory for a city suitable for grandchildren.
