In “The True Cost” the principles behind the movie are to show the hidden cost of multiple layers to the textile industry. These cost spanned from where the resource is first grown to be used to make the products to the final resting place most wind up. In the movie it gives factual information that is often overlooked by consumers or “customers.” These facts are provided in order to give different views with inside glimpses to the scale of impact that being one of the contributing factors can have of this not so harmless cycle. In the end it addresses Capitalism and how it is to blame in the broad sense the continuance of these overlooked/ignored “trends."

            What I found most surprising in this film is that the overall environmental impact was second only to fossil fuels. This fact really made me understand the importance on change in this avenue of my lifestyle. Not that I shop regularly, in fact I tend to shop at thrift stores if I am ever in need of clothes or I simply rotate my clothes in order to make them last as long as possible but after this film I will certainly check tags before purchasing new items. The revolving problems making clothing with least expense to produce being always at the forefront of business design also sadden me how easy money can blind people of fundamental principles of right and wrong. They used images of brainwashing and unwavering obedience comparing it to the advertisements we as American are exposed to everyday and I believe this is 100% of the case when we don’t instead look at the underlining cost of those items.

                I also found that when we donate those clothes how they impact local economies furthering the textile investors grip around the throats of these countries that need to continue business in order to survive. Also that 97% of all clothes made are not made in America was also pretty shocking even though we have been high in cotton production in our history and this giant shift to out of country manufacturing in more than clothes just makes me sick how we exploit all the rest of the world to do our ‘dirty work.’ When I was watching the film my friend said “I would buy ‘Made in this USA’ clothes if I could find or afford them.” For me after seeing the film and the other clothes options I will be personally attempting to actively search for those choices in the future despite the lessened availability and greater cost. As we have discussed before it’s almost like a vote with every dollar, how it is spent on the future of a company that wants to get that investment when you make these simple choices.

                 At the end of the film they had a video comparing what happens to make the products, to the frenzy we see on Black Friday and the total madness of it. It was truly eye-opening imagery of the sickness we feed into in our greed. A song by Eddie Vedder, in one of my favorite movies “Into the Wild” and inspiration why I am now in Utah, fits to this movie for me and it plays:

“Society”

It's a mystery to me
we have a greed,
with which we have agreed

You think you have to want
more than you need
until you have it all you won't be free

Society, you're a crazy breed
I hope you're not lonely without me

When you want more than you have
you think you need
and when you think more than you want
your thoughts begin to bleed

I think I need to find a bigger place
'cos when you have more than you think
you need more space

Society, you're a crazy breed
I hope you're not lonely without me
Society, crazy and deep
I hope you're not lonely without me

There's those thinking more or less less is more
but if less is more how you're keeping score?
Means for every point you make
your level drops
kinda like it's starting from the top
you can't do that...

Society, you're a crazy breed
I hope you're not lonely without me
Society, crazy indeed
I hope you're not lonely without me

Society, have mercy on me
I hope you're not angry if I disagree
Society, crazy and deep
I hope you're not lonely without me