Bangladesh Death Toll Exceeds 620

Munir Uz Zaman / AFP - Getty Images

Updates and stories from the collapse of Rana Plaza, a garment factory in Savar, Bangladesh a couple of weeks ago are still coming in strong.  The death toll has now surpassed 620 and has sparked outrage across the country and globally.  Initial government investigations said vibrations from generators located on the upper floors may have caused the collapse as the building was constructed from sub-par materials.  Locals are calling for the death penalty for the owner of the building and others involved.


In the meantime, fast fashion retailers are also feeling the heat as this story continues to make international news and the death toll continues to rise.  Italian clothing brand, United Colors of Benetton, had orders placed at a factory located in Rana Plaza and has been expanding its presence in Bangladesh which now produces 4% of the company's merchandise.  Further, numerous images of Joe Fresh clothing being carried from the rubble is a testament to the company's reliance on cheap labor to produce those fun colorful minimalistic pieces.  

According to the Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association, H&M is the largest buyer in the country followed by Walmart. It is without a doubt, that fast fashion has fueled the race to produce the cheapest clothing at the expense of human lives.  We definitely need to see the industry evolve to promote safety in these factories.  

Read More:
WSJ: The Global Garment Trail: From Bangladesh to a Mall Near You
BBC: Bangladesh Rana Plaza factory collapse toll passes 600