Many large brands are still using dangerous undercover sandblasting to distress their denim, despite claiming to have boycotted the life-threatening technique.

A hazardous myth exists around supply and demand in the fashion industry. Supposedly, the only way to meet high demand for a product is for cruel labour to occur overseas.

An overwhelming demand for distressed denim in fast fashion fads has forced the practise to continue. Sandblasting is fast and effective, but toxic. Overseas workers are worn out from putting their lives at risk to meet the need of companies to sell jeans with a worn out aesthetic.

In 2010, the doors of sandblasting factories in Turkey were swung open, the practice exposed for all to see. The several deaths caused by lung diseases from sandblasting were impossible to ignore, leading 40 major brands such as Armani, H&M and Esprit to ban using sand.

It seemed that the denim industry was improving, but this is sadly not the case. Although the methods used to create a distressed look have become safer, lives are still at risk for the sake of denim.

Five years later, undercover investigations have revealed that people are still being used in the garment industry to blast denim. But the ban has meant that sandblasting is becoming more and more dangerous.

Rather than occurring in factories, investigations have shown that sandblasting is now being subcontracted. This is a sneaky way of working around the enforced ban. Rather than official employees doing the work, it is being given to external workers to avoid legalities.

The conditions where this illegal sandblasting is taking place are terrible. To avoid being caught, the sandblasting units operate at night, in backyards and basements of remote areas, and unregistered workshops. In these environments, almost no safety gear is used.

Unfortunately, even good intentions by denim companies have not lead to change in the industry. The demand for distressed denim is still strong, meaning sandblasting will continue.

We, as consumers, need to go beyond banning sandblasting, and personally abandon buying new-distressed denim.