What is Fashion Revolution Week?
FRW is a campaign initiated by Orsola de Castro and Carry Somers in the wake of the devastating Rana Plaza disaster in 2013.
Rana Plaza was a garment factory in Dhaka, Bangladhesh which collapsed on 24th April on 2013, killing over 1,100 garment workers making clothes for major high street brands.
In the wake of this appalling event, considerd the dealiest in the garment industry’s history, fashion campaigners vowed to ensure that nothing of its kind would ever happen again.
FRW was one of these responses, beginning with Fashion Revolution Day which marked the anniversary of the disaster each year, ensuring the spotlight remained on the fashion industry issues which led to the Rana Plaza disaster.
Now in its sixth year, as the name suggests, FRW spans a whole week. The campaign aims to get consumers talking about the issues and engaging in campaigns both on and offline to push brands for change.
How can I get involved?
There are loads of events to join in with this week, and thanks to coronavirus-imposed social distancing measures, they’re all happening online. While this is bad news for the IRL event we were planning, it does mean that all geographical barriers are dissolved, and we can attend events all around the world!
Fashion Revolution have daily discussion panels and events to watch via Instagram Live – starting with Orsoladecastro and Patrick Duffy today at 3pm.
@Fash-Rev are looking at the following four themes on social media this week: Consumption, Composition, Conditions, Collective Action – examining our relationship with clothes as consumers, what our clothes are made from and the impacts of these materials, who makes our clothes and the struggles these people face and how we can use our influence to push for change.
All week, we’ll be joining in with Izzy McLeod’s social media campaign via Insta Stories. Each day has a different focus, starting with ‘Why a Fashion Revolution’ today.
For something more creative, you can join live studio tours and workshops with sustainable brands and designers via @fashionopenstudio, kicking off with Denim Day with @ISKOdenim.
On Thursday we’re looking forward to attending Manchester’s Sustainable Fashion Forum, a panel discussion between Lucy Siegle, Patsy Perry, Wardrobe Wellbeing and All Pally Vintage, organised by Gemma from The Bee Thrive – details on Bee Thrive instagram page.
And on Friday, FASHION QUESTION TIME will be live streamed by @fash_rev on Youtube at 11am. The theme for the panel is Mass Consumption: The End of an Era?
The panel of experts includes:
Kate Fletcher, Professor at Centre for Sustainable Fashion, UAL
Dio Kurazawa, Co-founder of The Bear Scouts
Kenya Hunt, Fashion Director at Grazia
Dr Lisa Cameron MP, Chair of the APPG on Sustainable Clothing and Textiles
Mary Creagh, Advisor on climate, sustainable development, green finance and MP 2005-19
The panel will be chaired by Baroness Lola Young of Hornsey
You can follow the campaign all week on social media usign the hashtags #FashRev #FashionRevolution #FashionRevolutionWeek #WhoMadeMyClothes and #WhatsInMyClothes.
Stitched Up x
