The Right to Adequate Clothing: A Social Right or an Unsustainable Privilege? Sweden as a Case Study on the Emergence of ‘Sustainable Clothing’ and its Relation to Human Rights

Abstract

This research delves into the matter of the under-researched human right to adequate clothing, and how this right may be affected by the emerging need for the clothing industry to become more sustainable. For this aim, the paper explores what adequacy means in the human right to adequate clothing. It illustrates that sustainable clothing is less accessible than clothes from ‘fast fashion’, the dominating category of clothing. The research revolves around the problem that certain groups in society, not least those with a lower income, have less access to sustainable clothes. Methodologically, this research conducts a case study on Sweden. Through expert interviews, with both NGOs and sustainable clothing companies, the findings show that sustainable clothing must become more accessible to everyone to decrease the risk of posing human rights against each other. In the case of this study, the right to adequate clothing is conflicting with other human rights. Additionally, the human right to a healthy environment is negatively impacted if people are forced to make less sustainable choices. The lack of research and knowledge is reflected in the findings. There is a division between the knowledge and perspectives among the respondents for this research. Organisations working with human rights, climate justice and/or social justice have different perceptions of the human right to adequate clothing. Most importantly, sustainable clothing companies are disconnected from human rights organisations, causing a further gap in the research field. Last but not least, a future definition of ‘adequate clothing’ could preferably be inspired by the concept of sustainable clothing.