I am no expert on Norwegian culture, but apparently their teenagers spend a lot of money on clothing. So much so that director Joakim Kleven decided to create a documentary of sorts called Deadly Fashion that tries to expose these teenagers to the hardships faced by those forced to toil away in sweatshops in order to create the elaborate and expensive clothing they buy.
This is one clip from Kleven’s series that I would like to highlight in particular, due to it being one of the more impactful ones in my estimation. In it, you see a few Norwegian teenagers breaking down when they realize just how privileged they are compared to the people who work in terrible conditions to provide them with their clothing.
This video, as well as the rest of the series, should prove to be enlightening to non-Norwegians as well. It is no secret that teenagers today seem to enjoy being voracious consumers without knowing exactly where and how the products they buy are made. There is indeed a universal lesson to be learned here, and it is that most people go through life so concerned about themselves and their immediate surroundings, that they forget about the bigger picture.
In those rare instances when the curtain is pulled back, like when these Norwegian teens discovered the truth about their country’s fashion industry, folks tend to break down and re-assess. I think we could all stand to do some re-assessing now and then, and the world would be a better place for it.
Featured photo credit: Stop looking/ henry jose via flickr.com
