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April 18th-24th marks Fashion Revolution Week, an annual campaign bringing together the world's largest fashion activism, and marking the anniversary of the Rana Plaza collapse in 2013. The campaign focuses on collectively advocating on a just and equitable fashion system for both people and the planet (Fashion Revolution).
FASHION REVOLUTION
Fashion Revolution was founded in the wake of the Rana Plaza disaster, which has grown to become the world's largest fashion activism movement, mobilising citizens, brands and policymakers through research, education and advocacy (Fashion Revolution).
Its vision is to have a global fashion industry that protects and restores the environment and values people over profit.
Their main goals are:
- End human and environmental exploitation in the global fashion industry
- Safe working conditions and living wages for all people in the supply chain
- Redistributed and more equal balance of power across the global fashion industry
- A bigger and stronger labour movement in the global fashion industry
- A global fashion industry that works to conserve precious resources and regenerate ecosystems
- A culture of transparency and accountability across the value chain
- An end to throwaway culture and shift to a system where materials are used for much longer and nothing goes to waste
- Heritage, craftsmanship and local wisdom are recognized and valued
And in order to enact these changes, it begins with cultural change, industry change, and policy change.
Cultural Change
Example: Raise public awareness and educate people about the systemic challenges facing the global fashion industry.
Industry Change
Example: Conduct research that shines a light on the social and environmental impacts of the global fashion industry.
Policy Change
Example: Advocate for policy changes and influence governments to play a more active role in better enforcing laws and regulating the industry.
The organization spearheading this movement, Fashion Revolution Foundation, is located in the UK and is a registered charity that relies on the support from citizens around the world to help create free and accessible resources and impactful campaigns to demand a clean, safe, fair, transparent, and accountable fashion industry (Fashion Revolution).
RANA PLAZA COLLAPSE 2013
Report on Bangladesh Building Collapse Finds Widespread Blame. New York Times.
In 2013, the Rana Plaza, a massive garment factory in the Dhaka District of Bangladesh, collapsed due to a structural failure, leaving 1,134 garment workers dead and approximately 2,500 injured. The structural issues and natural degrading of the building was known to managers and building owners, but despite that, garment workers were told to continue work due to pressures to complete orders. No action was taken to fix the matter and after the collapse and death of 1,134 garment workers, majority women, this disaster soon spurred a global response and call to action of the unethical, unsafe conditions, pressures and dangers of the fast fashion industry. This remains the deadliest garment factory disaster in history.
THE 'WHY' OF A FASHION REVOLUTION
The fashion industry as we know it is built on the foundations of exploitation, extraction and greed. It is an industry that is polluting our planet and exhausting our resources, as well as exploiting, abusing and violating humans and their rights.
In order for the fashion industry to rebuild and repair itself, the system and economy as we know it must revolutionize and radicalize itself completely, adopting a new system and economy built on human and labour rights, fair and livable wages, sustainable principles and practices, and a massive societal and cultural shift in how we view and value people over profit, as well as shift our consumerist behaviours into more mindful and conscious decisions.
We cannot have human rights changes without policy changes, and we cannot have policy changes without cultural changes. It is an intersectional issue and it all connects and aids one another.
We must use our voices, our money and our community to take back our power and revolutionize the way we wear, treat and value our clothing.
HOW CAN WE GET INVOLVED?
There are many ways to get involved and take action this week (and thereafter), whether it is your own campaign or initiative, or joining the many campaigns, events and initiatives taking place this week (and who dedicate their time, energy and money into amplifying and advocating every day of the year!).
JOIN A MOVEMENT IN YOUR CITY
Fashion Revolution events are taking place globally in different countries, so the best thing you can do is research what is currently going on in your country and city of residence.
You don't only have to join or take part in events in relation to Fashion Revolution during this week, rather take part in a local initiative that continue this work on the daily, keeping yourself informed while also taking small steps and actions.
DONATE TO INITIATIVES
Donate, donate, donate! Your donations can go a long way and continue to support things like free and accessible educational resources provided to you online. Whether it be Fashion Revolution or any organizations that are committed to fashion activism, find where your values feel closely aligned and donate what you can.
SOCIAL MEDIA
Social Media can be a powerful tool and a catalyst and force for change. You can use social media as a means to share information, amplify others' work, as well as engage with fellow activists whom are fighting the good fight. It is also a great way to educate others on these issues that may not be aware of and the more you educate and spread awareness, the larger and more impactful this movement will become.
EDUCATE, BECOME AWARE, AND TAKE ACTION
Take this week of actions as an opportunity to begin or continue your education and understanding of the global impacts and concerns of the fashion industry and how we as both citizens and consumers can be a voice of reason and change.
It is not just our individual actions that will propel action and change, rather collective and community action that work to create larger ripple effects in our cultural thinking and ways of being, industry regulations across the globe, as well as policy and legislation changes within our local governing bodies.
SOURCES USED
(All resources/links are clickable)
