“The True Cost” sheds light on the dark side of the global fashion industry, especially the fast fashion business. The film shows how cheap production in developing countries such as Bangladesh, India, Cambodia and China lead to poor working conditions, low wages and massive environmental destruction. Among other things, the film focuses on the collapse of the Rana Plaza factory in Bangladesh, which illustrates the catastrophic conditions in textile factories.

The film makes it significant how increasing consumption in Western countries is fueled by the media and leads to an explosion in clothing production worldwide, while at the same time textile waste and environmental pollution increase drastically.

“The True Cost” presents economic, ecological and social grievances of the fashion industry and gives a voice to both supporters and critics of the system, including activists, scientists and representatives of fair fashion companies. (LK)

To draw attention to the topic of sustainability and fast fashion, the Hochschulfilmclub is showing the film in cooperation with TU Ilmenau to kick off the Sustainability Days!