Fashion Activism: how it works and why do we need it?
Fashion is one of the most powerful industries in the world, but there are many problems with how it's used. The fashion industry can be harmful to workers, consumers and the environment — and it often fails to address issues that matter most to people.
With most of our clothes being made by workers living on poverty-level wages and causing negative environmental impact, it seems that it is nearly impossible to fight i’s negative impact. However, it’s not true. We’re sure that fashion can be used for good and make positive changes in economical, social, and environmental fields.
In this post, you’ll discover more about fashion activism and how each of us can get involved to make a difference.
What is fashion activism?
Fashion activism is a movement that encourages people to use fashion as a tool to promote positive changes. It is not only about raising money but also about raising awareness through various forms of activism including social media campaigns, celebrity endorsement and so on.
The industry has been able to successfully bring attention to important issues that have been affecting people for years, such as racism, body shaming, gender inequality, poverty, and mental disorders, etc.
Another way that the fashion industry can promote change is by raising awareness about the negative effects that it has on the environment.
As long as there exist issues in society and harm done to the environment by industries like fashion, there will always be a need for activism and we’re happy that it’s getting more popular and widespread around the world.
How to get involved in fashion acticism?
Here are a few simple ways you can get learn more and participate in fashion activism:
1. Support charities through fashion
Fashion is an exciting way to raise money for charities. Choosing the fashion that supports the causes you care about is a great way to express yourself and show your support for a cause while still looking good.
2. Be conscious about what you buy.
It is a great way to be more sustainable with your fashion choices. There are plenty of ethical brands out there that make it easier to shop ethically. If you don’t know where to shart, check out our blog covering tips to know whether the brand is truly sustainable. It’ll help you identify genuine green brands.
3. Use your voice.
Social media platforms can be a great way to speak out about your values and support those ethical brands and activists. Share your opinions on social media platforms like Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and others with hashtags such as #womensrightssunday or #worldmentalhealthday etc...
4. Don’t buy products from companies that support irresponsible labour practices or don't pay taxes etc... Instead, watch #2 in this list & support companies that have ethical policies and values.
Fashion activism is about being part of a collective for change. Yes, you are only an individual — but you also can be part of a community and part of a broader movement.
Here are some movements where you can learn more about fashion activism, support them with your donations and even join the movements:
ReGo addresses societal concerns through fashion activism and provides educational and career possibilities for young people in the fashion industry.
The project aims at exploring the meanings of fashion, supporting learning about materials and making processes. This will raise valuing the garments which we wear, nurturing diverse competencies, and catalysing change in others as well as in oneself.
Fashion Revolution is building clean, safe, and transparent fashion industry. They are doing this through research, education, collaboration, mobilisation and advocacy.
Now they are running the Good Clothes, Fair Pay campaign demanding living wage legislation across the garment, textile and footwear sector. To push for legislation, they need 1 million signatures from EU citizens to push for legislation that requires companies to conduct living wage due diligence in their supply chains. You can find more information about why it’s an issue on their website.
Discover more about Fashion Revolution.
Slow Factory Foundation is a collective focused on restoring balance between humans and nature through design, education and narrative change. They are collaborating with a wide range of companies to change their systems and supply chains, pushing them towards taking into consideration environmental impact and human rights.
Slow Factory foundation condemns reseachres on on sustainable materials technology, textile innovation, and life cycle analysis. It helps to inform and influence customer perceptions and behavior, resulting in scalable climate-friendly solutions.
I want to learn more about Slow Factory.
In the end, fashion is not just about wearing the latest trends on the runway, but also about making a statement with your clothes and accessories - whether it's in how you style yourself or what brands you choose to buy from. We hope that this blog gets you a little closer to becoming a fashion activist and if you do a small step toward choosing more sustainable and ethical garments, we’re on the right way!