Keep the Revolution rolling
This year's Fashion Revolution Week was the biggest one yet. The #whomademyclothes campaign sent waves through social media as thousands of people around the world asked brands to draw back the curtain and reveal more about the people behind the clothes we wear. The campaign - an annual event that takes place in the final week of April - marks the anniversary of the Rana Plaza tragedy and it's part of a wider global movement calling for a fairer, more transparent fashion industry. Even if you missed the action this year, it's not too late to get involved.
Here's 5 simple ways to keep the fashion revolution on a roll...
#1 Go transparent with your next clothing purchase. There are plenty of brands out there leading the way in demonstrating that good-looking clothes don't have to come at the cost of the planet or the people who make them. These brands can tell you about the individuals who make their clothes, the factories they use, where and how their materials are sourced and what they're doing to make continuous improvements in their supply chains. Next time you need to buy an item of clothing, do some research to see if you can buy from a brand that has radical transparency at its core. (Here's 5 brands to get you started. Ooh and an extra one for good measure).
#2 Help change the high street. Okay, so #1 might not be possible for you for a variety of reasons...maybe it doesn't suit your budget, or you don't have time to do the research, or maybe you just really, really, REALLY need that EXACT thing you saw in the window of that high-street store. We get it. It's great to support brands who are doing things differently, but it's also important to challenge high street brands to do better. Next time you buy an item of clothing, contact the brand over social media or send them an email to ask #whomademyclothes? (Here's some handy templates you can use).
#3 Contact a policy maker. Creating widespread and lasting transformation in the fashion industry requires action at every level, from consumers using the power of their voice and their wallets all the way up to the implementation of common standards and legal regulation across the industry. Get in touch with your government representative to encourage them to do something about it. (Oh, look - another handy template).
#4 Read the Fashion Transparency Index 2018. This detailed review ranks 150 of the world's biggest brands and retailers including Adidas, ASOS, Marks & Spencer, H&M and Gap, according to how much information each one shares about their policies & commitments, how they monitor and address human rights and environmental abuses in their supply chains and what steps they're taking to address key issues including gender equality, payment of a living wage and waste.
#5 Sign the Fashion Revolution Manifesto. Easy peasy.