FASHION BRANDING AND LABOR INVISIBILITY IN THE GLOBAL FASHION INDUSTRY


Ms. Amisha Ekka, Mr. Rajeev Kumar
1. Amity Business School, Amity University, Chhattisgarh, 2. Amity School of Fashion Technology, Amity University, Chhattisgarh
Abstract
This research paper examines the relationship between fashion branding and labor invisibility within the global fashion industry. Modern fashion brands such as Nike and H&M use advertising, celebrity endorsements, influencer culture, and social media marketing to construct powerful brand identities associated with lifestyle, aspiration, and consumer identity. While these branding strategies successfully attract consumers and strengthen emotional attachment to products, they often conceal the labor conditions and workers involved in garment production. The study explores how garment workers and retail employees remain largely invisible despite their significant contribution to the fashion supply chain. It further analyzes issues such as low wages, unsafe working conditions, job insecurity, labor exploitation, and the effects of globalization and fast fashion production systems. The paper also discusses ethical concerns related to sustainability, Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), and environmental degradation caused by the fashion industry. By reviewing existing literature and examining global supply chains, the research highlights the gap between the glamorous public image of fashion brands and the hidden realities of labor practices. The study concludes that greater transparency, ethical labor standards, consumer awareness, and corporate accountability are necessary to create a more socially responsible and sustainable fashion industry.
Keywords: Fashion Branding, Labor Invisibility, Fast Fashion, Garment Workers, Ethical Fashion, Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), Consumer Identity
Journal Name :
EPRA International Journal of Multidisciplinary Research (IJMR)

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Published on : 2026-05-24

Vol : 12
Issue : 5
Month : May
Year : 2026
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