Hi all, Najah here. Guess what? It’s #FashRev week! In today’s blogpost I’m putting together a list of free online resources you can get your hands on as the world of #fashion crumbles all around us (more on that story later, but mostly because fashion’s wealth is built on exploitation of others within its supply chain.)
560 words; 2.5 min read.
Milan Men’s Fashion Week (scheduled in June ) will merge with Women’s Fashion Week in September for first time ever, and London Fashion Week will also become gender neutral, and digital.
We are all here feeling crap together
Side backstory: It’s been a while since I had last posted. I have been working on a number of creative projects towards the end of 2019 and was very much looking forward to lots of #sustainablefashion happenings in the new year. Suffice to say, they were all due to be executed in April 2020 but, of course, #Covid. Since February I have been in Australia to visit family and friends, as well as catch up on business stuff. I was not allowed to fly back to KL in March as originally planned, so here I am, stuck in #Melbourne with my Aussie gang! Not a bad place to be, though: with family. So I consider myself one of the lucky ones.
It’s a difficult time for all of us as I have been doing FaceTime chats with friends all over the world— Italy, Spain, USA (New York, Miami), Malaysia. Everyone is doing it tough in their own ways. I had a friend message me from Sri Lanka, whose income is (or was) from working in retail in the tourism sector. He said he’s down to eating once a day. I’ve read somewhere that the #coronavirus effects in India will literally cause deaths due to starvation as people can’t get on the trains to be with their families in regional towns and will be dying on the streets in the big cities. So grim, and if you have some spare cash to help your mates, I encourage you to do what you can. If you can’t, it’s OK. Everyone’s journeys are different. As long as we are here for each other.
Slowing down due to a global pandemic
One thing is for sure, the world is slowing down in a MAJOR way. I don’t have to repeat what you guys already know — in terms of the good news stories pertaining to our #environment on the other side of this economic so-called crisis (because, #capitalism.) So I feel like I don’t really need to say too much about #SlowFashion anymore. (But if you want to get up-to-date with the news, check out https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20200326-covid-19-the-impact-of-coronavirus-on-the-environment)
According to trend forecaster Li Edelkoort, the coronavirus pandemic, eventually, will “allow #humanity to reset its values.” She offers this view: “It seems we are massively entering a quarantine of consumption where we will learn how to be happy just with a simple dress, rediscovering old favourites we own, reading a forgotten book and cooking up a storm to make life beautiful.” (Source: https://www.dezeen.com/2020/03/09/li-edelkoort-coronavirus-reset/)
There have been reports (just in the last 24 hours) however that Boohoo has seen a surge in profits and sales in April, compared to March, as the #coronavirus forces more shoppers online. This news story made me happy but sad at the same time. Why? Because on one hand, big brands have stopped paying for their COMPLETED orders in countries like Bangladesh (see how Covid is affecting fashion’s supply chain here: https://www.fashionrevolution.org/the-impact-of-covid-19-on-the-people-who-make-our-clothes/) but on the other, Boohoo’s top sourcing countries include the UK, China, India and Turkey, but we don’t know from which factories. (Source: https://labourbehindthelabel.org/boohoo/). Boohoo workers’ pay and conditions are cloaked in secrecy and I don’t know if buying stock from Boohoo right now to keep them afloat is the right thing to do or not— because pre-Covid, it sure isn’t! Supporting workers to keep their jobs and wages is a good thing (generally, speaking, let’s not go into *what’s a fair wage*), if, and only if— they are keeping people in their jobs (at least I think in the UK, where most of their clothing is sourced from), but Boohoo’s fast fashion business model can’t be a good thing in the long run, you know what I mean? If there is one thing fast fashion companies can learn from this outbreak, it is to review their whole operations and how they make their products.. to ensure healthy profits for the company, planet, and humanity. I sure hope lots of fashion brands are thinking about pivoting right now. #Sustainability is the only way forward to build a resilient and fair fashion industry. But I guess this also applies to all goods being manufactured, right?
There are ways to support the people who make our clothes, especially during this unprecedented global health and economic crisis. Photo source: Unsplash.
Let’s get woke at home!
Without getting into the personal psyche of what motivates an individual to shop at Boohoo.com, I will move on to some healthy ways that you can contribute to your fashion ‘wokeness.’ Best thing about staying at home right now? Is that there are no geographical boundaries for joining online events for FashRev. And they’re all FREE! So here’s the list:
- The Next Black: Film Screening, hosted by UQ Oxfam. Friday 24 April, 6:00-8:00pm AEST.
- *Virtual* Stitch & Bitch. Hosted by Fashion Revolution UK and chaired by co-founder, @OrsoladeCastro. Sunday 26 April. The live stream conversation on their YouTube channel will be bringing together brilliant makers and fashion leaders for an open discussion on the future of the industry. More details on exact times here: https://www.instagram.com/p/B_IFZmpJ_uo/
- The Future of Sustainable Fashion in a post-COVID World, hosted by UQ Oxfam. Monday 27 April, 6:00-7:30pm AEST, via Zoom
- Report on The Fashion Transparency Index, published annually by Fashion Revolution. This year’s reports gave us some startling numbers. https://www.fashionrevolution.org/about/transparency/
- Circular Economy, an opportunity to restart, hosted by Circular Economy Club Melbourne. Tuesday 28 April. 6:30-7:30pm AEST. https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/circular-economy-an-opportunity-to-restart-tickets-101706992352
- Fashion Open studio is always open! Pandemic or no pandemic, follow them to watch so many good videos and participate in #SlowFashion workshops here https://www.fashionopenstudio.com/
- Business of Fashion’s #BoFLive, a series of online resources Connecting our global community with expert advice, practical guidance and creative inspiration to navigate these unprecedented times. https://pages.businessoffashion.com/bof-live-calendar/
Fashion Revolution USA has a week-long list of activities on their IG Live that anyone can tune into, check ‘em out here https://www.instagram.com/stories/highlights/18113567992115464/
And finally, of course — please go to fashionrevolution.org for a myriad of educational resources on the state of #WhoMadeMyClothes? and #transparency in fashion.
Without getting into the personal psyche of what motivates an individual to shop at Boohoo.com, I will move on to some healthy ways that you can contribute to your fashion ‘wokeness.’ Best thing about staying at home right now? Is that there are no geographical boundaries for joining online events for FashRev. And they’re all FREE! So here’s the list:
- The Next Black: Film Screening, hosted by UQ Oxfam. Friday 24 April, 6:00-8:00pm AEST.
- *Virtual* Stitch & Bitch. Hosted by Fashion Revolution UK and chaired by co-founder, @OrsoladeCastro. Sunday 26 April. The live stream conversation on their YouTube channel will be bringing together brilliant makers and fashion leaders for an open discussion on the future of the industry. More details on exact times here: https://www.instagram.com/p/B_IFZmpJ_uo/
- The Future of Sustainable Fashion in a post-COVID World, hosted by UQ Oxfam. Monday 27 April, 6:00-7:30pm AEST, via Zoom
- Report on The Fashion Transparency Index, published annually by Fashion Revolution. This year’s reports gave us some startling numbers. https://www.fashionrevolution.org/about/transparency/
- Circular Economy, an opportunity to restart, hosted by Circular Economy Club Melbourne. Tuesday 28 April. 6:30-7:30pm AEST. https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/circular-economy-an-opportunity-to-restart-tickets-101706992352
- Fashion Open studio is always open! Pandemic or no pandemic, follow them to watch so many good videos and participate in #SlowFashion workshops here https://www.fashionopenstudio.com/
- Business of Fashion’s #BoFLive, a series of online resources Connecting our global community with expert advice, practical guidance and creative inspiration to navigate these unprecedented times. https://pages.businessoffashion.com/bof-live-calendar/
Fashion Revolution USA has a week-long list of activities on their IG Live that anyone can tune into, check ‘em out here https://www.instagram.com/stories/highlights/18113567992115464/
And finally, of course — please go to fashionrevolution.org for a myriad of educational resources on the state of #WhoMadeMyClothes? and #transparency in fashion.
Fashion Revolution Week is a global campaign that mobilises consumers to ask #whomademyclothes every year in April, which falls on the anniversary of the Rana Plaza garment factory collapse in Bangladesh, which killed 1138 people and injured many more on 24th April 2013. That is the day Fashion Revolution was born. During this week, brands and producers are encouraged to respond with the hashtag #imadeyourclothes and to demonstrate transparency in their supply chain.
#FashionRevolution doesn’t stop Sunday, so keep at it!
In most parts of the world, it’s safe to say that we’ve all survived the last month or so without going shopping for clothes. And did we die? No, we didn’t. I’ve always maintained that humans’ need for clothing had evolved from survival against the elements to complete overstatement of personal wealth: and the sweet spot in the middle is a mixture of function and creative style that enhances your individual personality.
This sweet spot should stay where it belongs, and it should be what we aim for. In a post-Covid19 world, as we incrementally go back to normal, I hope our new normal will see us continuing on the slow patterns we’re currently in.
If you are completely re-thinking of your shopping choices for your wardrobe as part of lessons learnt from this experience, then my main takeaway message is to resist buying anything new, but come out of this pandemic with a renewed outlook on #styling, instead — using the clothes you already own. Perhaps as we start socialising again, we should really get into the clothing swap spirit with our mates. Not buying anything new would ease our financial burdens over the next 12 or so months as the economy recovers to the new normal. However, if you feel that you are financially able to inject some moolah into the economy, I’d say support local and artisanal products, because that’s the only thing that makes sense right now.
Til we meet again soon my darlings! Stay safe, and take care of each other xxxx
Join us in our Slow Fashion movement with the hashtags #ConscientiousFashionista and #wardrobetruths on Instagram, and follow us at @fashinfidelity.
Tags: #fashrev #fashionrevolution #fashionrevolution2020 #fashionrevolutionweek #ethicalfashion #sustainablefashion #ecofashion #greenfashion #responsiblefashion #circularfashion #circularity #conscientiousfashionista #fastfashion #slowfashion #sustainability #wardrobetruths #fashioneducation #fashionisnolongertrendy #fashion #saynotofastfashion #fashionnews #coronavirus #covid19 #stayhome
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