Primark is one of the most popular clothing outlets for the average UK woman. From T-shirts that cost less than the price of a DVD to a pair of jeans for under £20, this store has it all. Fashion consciousness is on the rise and so is demand for ever-changing product styles at cheap prices, Primark bridges the gap from the catwalk to the wardrobe at home. Fast changing fashions bring something new to shop shelves every three weeks and since these clothes are so cheap people can afford to buy them more frequently. However, this in turn forces workers to work long hours to ensure the product is ready in time. Have you ever questioned why these garments are so cheap? Or do you simply question the price of the designer clothing, which seems so over-priced?

The sad reality of the situation is that very cheap clothes do come at a cost, usually paid by poor labourers working long hours in developing and under-developed nations. In recent months the media has been overrun with stories of sweatshops and the terrible working conditions that are endured to fill our wardrobes, and it seems that people are finally standing up and paying attention.

More and more consumers are looking into ethical fashion, however the problem remaining is the accessibility of such clothing and the extra costs incurred in taking a stand. This is when the search begins for reasonably priced, fashionable, earth-aware, ecologically conscious and human-sensitive clothing for the not-so-wealthy consumer.

The good news is that popular high street retailers such as Levis and Gap are now stocking a growing range of eco-friendly garments, as well as a growing number of online stores with a variety of styles to choose from. “Using our contacts and knowledge of the market, we have been able to produce great clothes with high ethical standards that are the same price as the high street, enabling consumers to buy ethically without compromise,” explained Adam Smith, CEO Adili.com.

Personally, I’m a self-confessed Primark addict, and those £10 dresses were just calling out to me when I walked past the display window yesterday. But after finding out where exactly these clothes come from, I decided to become more aware and find out just how hard it is to dress to impress without contributing to the plight of those working under tough conditions. I don’t want to buy a dress sewn together by a child younger than my kid sister, nor do I want this situation to escalate to an even wider scale than it already has.

A great way to bag an eco-bargain is to check out ethical alternatives online. However, women like to try on clothes, we like browsing and, detrimental as it is to our credit cards, we like to impulse buy! Yes, this can be done over the web, but personally I think you can’t beat a good old-fashioned shopping trip.

If Ascension opened up next door to Topshop it would be my main port of call on payday! The problem is that these stores won’t be opened without the demand from consumers, so it’s down to us to express an interest. The next time that you hit the high street, ask if the store has signed up to the Ethical Trading Initiative (ethicaltrade.org). The assistant may not know but don’t be embarrassed to get them to find out, it’s the only way to send the message that consumers want retailers to take responsibility for the way that clothes are made.