Fashion Revolution is a global movement that runs all year long, but this week every year they focus on raising awareness and asking people to engage with their campaign for a more ethical and sustainable fashion industry.

It all starts today – April 24^th 2017 – which is the 4^th anniversary of the Rana Plaza disaster in 2013, when a garment factory in Bangladesh collapsed killing 1138 people and injuring many more. The garments being made were largely for the western fashion industry, and this really highlights the unethical conditions that many of our clothes are made in. So as a result Fashion Revolution was born.

Fashion Revolution “believes in a fashion industry that values people, the environment, creativity and profit in equal measure”. In their words:

• We want to unite people and organisations to work together towards radically changing the way our clothes are sourced, produced and consumed, so that our clothing is made in a safe, clean and fair way.
• We believe that collaborating across the whole value chain — from farmer to consumer — is the only way to transform the industry.
• Our mission is to bring everyone together to make that happen.

They aim to raise awareness and encourage positive change, which we as consumers can help achieve through engaging with the campaign and asking the fashion brands we buy from #whomademyclothes? and ask them to be accountable for their garment production conditions.

We can also help by making more sustainable and ethical choices about where we buy from, in the everyday way we use and care for our clothes, and how we dispose of unwanted clothes responsibly. There’s heaps more information on their website: http://fashionrevolution.org/.

We have a series of events happening here at NTU this week that you can get involved in too, so JOIN THE REVOLUTION!!! We all have the power to do something to make a positive change!

 

ALL WEEK:

• Fashion Revolution pop up stand: find out more and take part by asking brands #whomademyclothes #fashrevol on social media and engaging with the campaign at Bonington foyer (outside the gallery)
• Green Academy Blog takeover! https://ntu-sdgs.blog/ – write a blog post about how your work relates to the campaign, how it has made you look at clothing differently or what you have learnt during the week. Contact the Green Academy via ‘contact’ section above for guidelines on how to submit.

 

WEDNESDAY:

• Sustainability in Practice certificate: Clothing Challenge Day. Places are limited, sign up by emailing: greenacademy@ntu.ac.uk
• “TRUE COST” MOVIE SCREENING at Bonington Lecture Theatre, 16.00-17.30. Open to all!

“This is a story about clothing. It’s about the clothes we wear, the people who make them, and the impact the industry is having on our world. The price of clothing has been decreasing for decades, while the human and environmental costs have grown dramatically. The True Cost is a ground-breaking documentary film that pulls back the curtain on the untold story and asks us to consider, who really pays the price for our clothing?

• Emotional Fit: Fashion Salon. Places are limited for the event and are by invitation only.

 

FRIDAY:

• Visual Material Delights: special event for 2nd years fashion, textiles, and knitwear design students only, with a series of talks relating to Fashion Revolution week themes.

Sign up to the Facebook page for updates and to get in touch with other students interested in the campaign: https://www.facebook.com/events/410837045946791/

-Thank you to Angharad Mclaren, who is a Lecturer in Textile Design and Sustainable Clothing Research Coordinator at NTU, for writing this blog post!

Want to write a blog post that’s featured on this site? Email us your ideas today at GreenAcademy@ntu.ac.uk!