The Price Tag of Fast Fashion: Rana Plaza and State-Corporate Crime in Bangladesh's Garment Industry

• In Event: State Crime and Beyond

Abstract

On April 24, 2013, tragedy befell Bangladesh with the collapse of the Rana Plaza complex. Rana Plaza stood at eight stories, five of which housed garment factories dedicated to the mass production of clothing for retailers in Europe and North America. Despite warnings about cracks in the building that threatened its structural integrity, employees were forced to work inside under the threat of losing their salary. Upon entry, 1,138 people lost their lives instead. Although owner Sohel Rana currently awaits trial for the murder of these garment workers, we suggest that the tragedy of the collapse goes beyond individualized culpability and is part of a broader system of exploitation that compromises human life for the pursuit of profit. Using a critical criminological perspective, therefore, this paper argues that the case of Rana Plaza is a state-corporate crime. We trace the collusion of political and economic interests in Bangladesh’ $30 billion garment industry to identify, analyze, and condemn the actions and inactions that led to the collapse of Rana Plaza and the deaths and injury of thousands. We ultimately use Rana Plaza to illuminate the systemic failures and violence of a fast fashion industry that thrives upon global inequality.

Authors

• Jaclyn T. San Antonio, University of Toronto

• Natali Downer, York University

• Harris Ali, York University