New Meaning to the Word Killer Jeans: Versace’s Sandblasting Techniques for Jeans

Did you know that people in poor countries may have actually died giving jeans made by fashion house Versace a faded look?  Evidently it’s a technique called sandblasting.  I was shocked to learn today that Versace used the process of sandblasting and that it can be lethal  So what is sandblasting? It’s a  process where workers fire sand under high pressure at jeans.  This process has been known to kill workers in garment producing countries like Turkey and Bangladesh, where jean sandblasting is done manually. The large amounts of silica dust generated during sandblasting can cause silicosis, a potentially lethal pulmonary disease, as workers inhale tiny particles of silica.  And I have to wonder, what does the dust landing on those jeans due to the wearer of the jeans.  The whole thing sounds unhealthy.  You can go to your local Thrift store and get faded jeans, and pay a lot these than Versace changed if you really want that worn look.  Levi’s, H+M, C+A and Gucci have all stopped doing sandblasting on their jeans. But not Versace.

And today that caused a social media protest on Versace’s Facebook group.  The brand responded by closing wall posts to their Facebook group. That stops their 500,000 Fans from posting to their page.   When someone controls the page, there’s no right to free speech. Especially on a Facebook page owned by a corporate brand.  What can you expect? Facebook pages are owned by corporations for the most part. After reading their Facebook wall where activists had posted dozens of messages demanding that the company ban sandblasting, Gianni Versace S.p.A. simply turned off the wall post capability on their wall.

That is their prerogative of course, but there is no way that the flood of social media messages bloggers, Tweeps and individuals are continuing to send the Versace brand. What has happened here is remarkable,” said Meredith Slater, an organizer with Change.org, the world’s fastest growing platform for social change. “Versace customers call on the company to simply follow the lead of other major clothing brands and stop seriously endangering its workers. Instead of responding to the content of that demand, the company decides to try and silence any criticism.”  Well at least on Facebook, where they can turn off their wall. BFD. That won’t silence consumers or activists.

I hope Versace gets the message.  Human life is precious, jeans are not. Click here to sign the petition.