Workers sandblast denim in Dhaka, Bangladesh.Allison Joyce
These workers in Dhaka, Bangladesh, sandblast jeans to produce fashionable creases and fades. But sand contains silica, which can cause a disabling lung disease called silicosis when inhaled. Many major brands—including, most recently, Versace—say they’ve cracked down on using silica. But some, like Dolce & Gabbana, Giorgio Armani, and Roberto Cavalli, have “remained totally indifferent” to requests to eliminate sandblasted clothes, according to the Italian spokeswoman of the anti-silica Clean Clothes Campaign. On top of that, policing the supply chain is a tall order. This facility’s owner claimed some of his jeans were headed for Gap, H&M, and Walmart; meanwhile, Levi’s and H&M have since declared a global ban on silica use at their facilities.
