Neoliberal fashion: The return to sewing sweatshops

Abstract

This paper analyzes the re-emergence of sewing sweatshops both in major and peripheral big cities around the world, in order to understand the changes that took place in the fashion industry over the past four decades and their consequences on the workers. Two case studies were carried out to this aim: one in the city of Buenos Aires and another one in the province of Prato [Italy]. The results of the investigation show that this sector was a pioneer in the Neoliberal industrial re-organization processes. In both case studies, the closing down of factories and the massive use of informal urban workshop subcontracting resulted in significant asset concentration as well as in a marked deterioration of labor conditions. In fact, human trafficking and the slavery of thousands of immigrant workers are vital to this industry's operation