Discover Fashion Revolution Week 2018
Fashion Revolution Week is fast approaching (23rd-29th April 2018), and this year I'm getting involved in organising and participating in a range of events in Scotland. Here, find out how you can get involved, both on social media and with offline events happening accross the world. Join the movement- it's time for a revolution in the fashion industry!
First off, what is Fashion Revolution, and why does it need a week dedicated to it?
On 24 April 2013, the Rana Plaza building in Bangladesh collapsed. 1,138 people died and another 2,500 were injured, making it the fourth largest industrial disaster in history.
That’s when Fashion Revolution, the world's largest fashion activism movement, a global charity campaigning tirelessly for systematic change in the fashion industry, was born. Now, during April every year in countries all over the world, Fashion Revolution Week is our opportunity to ecourage as many people as possible to ask #whomademyclothes?
Our clothes have gone on a long journey before they hit store shelves, passing through the hands of cotton farmers, spinners, weavers, dyers, sewers and others. Approximately 75 million people work to make our clothes. 80% of them are women between the ages of 18 and 35, and the majority live in poverty, unable to afford life’s basic necessities. Many are subject to exploitation; verbal and physical abuse, working in unsafe and dirty conditions, with very little pay.
Today, both people and the environment suffer as a result of the way fashion is made, sourced and consumed. This needs to change, and the only way it can is if we all decide to start asking questions and taking action.
This year, I am getting involved in Fashion Revolution Scotland once more, helping to organise the official Fashion Revolution Day event, and volunteering as the student ambassador for my university. The main event I'll be shouting about this year is 1138, a programme of unique events lasting nearly 24 hours, each minute representing a person that died on this day 5 years ago. Taking place in various venues throughout Edinburgh on Monday 23rd to Wednesday 25th April (save the date!) events will include:
Film screening of the new River Blue documentary
Panel discussions and talks from industry and academic experts
Networking breakfast, drinks reception
'Memory walk' accross the city, street campaign and photobooth
Clothing swap shop, indie fashion fair and live fashion shoot
Live poetry slam and fundraising club night
Textiles workshops
There are also tons of other events happening accross the country over the next couple of months! To stay updated, head over to my blog post:
Sustainability Takes The Stage in Scotland
And remember, Fashion Revolution is a global movement with teams in dozens of countries led by volunteers from the public- check out the FR event page to browse what's on globally, and sign up or donate to become part of the movement yourself!
Are you getting involved in Fashion Revolution this year? Or would you like to? Let me know in the comments or tweet me @urbanityblog!