When news broke last week that yet another disaster had befallen a garment factory in Bangladesh, I was angered and upset, but not very surprised. It had been a matter of months since the Tazreen factory fire had claimed 112 workers' lives, and it was inevitable that tragedy would strike again before long. I sat at my laptop, scrolling through Twitter, as more details unfolded. Incidentally, I was wearing a Primark dress.

It is quicker and better to circumvent a murky supply chain altogether by reframing our love for fashion in two ways: first, decide that it is better to buy from independent designers rather than a multinational corporation and second, look for labels that are manufactured locally.

The global industry that employs one sixth of the world's population is riddled with issues such as fast fashion, toxic chemical use, forced labour and waste. Let's make 2013 the year each of us become conscious consumers and demand that the fashion industry is changed.

It's safe to say that the festive season has begun. The office Christmas party is booked and New Year's Eve party invitations have been RSVP'd, so now the 'What will I wear?' question looms in the air, somewhere between your wardrobe as it is now and your bank account.

The contents of my wardrobe don't change much - you're more likely to find Narnia in there than this season's print or cut of jeans. When I do go clothes shopping, the way the fabric has been produced doesn't influence whether I'll take it home or not.

Adriana Herrera has a dream: "We want to make it very simple for you to find things based on your interests and likes. Right now, no-one is doing that in the world of fashion."

This month we celebrate World Fair Trade Day, a campaign spearheaded by People Tree, a fair trade fashion label. But are People Tree making the move to a fair trade culture more difficult by charging nearly £100 for their dresses? If you're on a low income is fair trade fashion ever possible for you?

I must confess; I am not a fan of the cuspate, six-incher heel. Yes, they look very fetching and yes, they can add a prominent elegance and sometimes ...

So, Kate Moss has been spotted shopping at Oxfam. Good news for fashionistas whose budget is more Aldi than Armani.

The earth's resources can't sustain the hideous environmental impact of fast, cheap fashion. As our landfills reach capacity with our binned six-week-old Primark leggings, it feels very much to me like the healthy future of the environment is in the fibres in which we chose to clothe ourselves.

Sustainable fashion is in many ways synonymous with virtuous self-denial. The term is certainly laced with notions of stylistic compromise making it a tough pill to swallow in place of the consumerist banquet of fast fashion. In the UK our fashion is the fastest - and arguably the most delightful - in the world.

Starting up in fashion with no investment doesn't seem like a very sane thing to do; especially in this financial climate. Last week, in fact, I was told by an industry consultant that I'd find it "very difficult" as I don't have a money-laden family or boyfriend. I liked his honesty; money would definitely help, but I think there's big change a foot in the fashion industry.

What Jeff Garner is doing with Prophetik is unique. Apart from being an artist with a clear vision, he is an entrepreneur who owns his means of production, he is a businessman who understands the values of environmental justice drive that his brand forward and these factors combined create Prophetik's unique position in the market.

RE, a hard-to-pin-down 'found object', vintage and recycled design company, first pricked my interest as they're based in the tiny, picturesque village of Corbridge, Northumberland, where my mum (and former Sunderland manager, Steve Bruce) is from.

When I think of monolithic sportswear brands and their highly questionable supply chains, I just have to resign myself that the Gazelle and the Chuck T are both one of those "It was great while it lasted, and even though you're still hot, it just isn't working for me anymore," relationships.

Every eco-fashionista knows that one doesn't have to sacrifice style for green cred. Gone are the days of ill-fitting garments made of itchy hemp and amorphous silhouettes.

The early 1990s were a golden era in postmodern black consciousness and 'X' was a symbol of empowerment emblazoned across the chests of so many young black men. However, within three or four years of such a potent resurgence of black radical thought, the 'X' tees seemed to disappear into the bottom drawer. So to see this symbol re-emerge on a suit jacket in 2011 was positively sublime.

So, exactly how did this young designer only five years out of art school, get commissioned by Swiss Army Knife originators Victorinox to make a one-off collection?