Green Is The New Black

---

If we are to see any major changes towards a sustainable future, our cultural attitudes circling the fashion that we consume and dispose of needs to change. Today, there is an accelerating growth of sustainability awareness, not only within fashion but also throughout a person’s general lifestyle habits. All of which may contribute to the environment and climate change, and this awareness only appears to be getting stronger. The fashion industry has fed individuals’ ferocious appetite for constant clothing consumption for many years and it appears that times are beginning to change for the better. With the rise of advertisement for second hand shopping and re-using what you already own, turning it into something that you once again love through processes such as customisation, means the excessive use of fast fashion is on it’s way to becoming a thing of the past.

With ever changing trends, fashion brands are at a constant demand for producing clothing that provides consumers with the newest and trendiest garments, allowing them to be worn maybe a few times just to then purchase more when a new trend manifests. This is made simple through the extraordinarily cheap prices and disposable quality of the clothes they are producing. Elements such as celebrity culture and fashion advertising encourage consumers to display their social position through their clothing, making it easier for people to have no regard as to where and how their clothes were made.

“At the moment, human rights abuses, gender inequality and environmental degradation all remain rife within the fashion industry, and positive change is more urgently needed than ever to tackle climate change and create a more equitable future for everybody working within the fashion supply chains” - Carry Somers, founder of Fashion Revolution, the global campaign for a more transparent fashion industry.

Fashion Revolution wants 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. Their vision is believing in a fashion industry that values people, the environment, creativity and profit in equal measure. They created Fashion Revolution Week, held annually on 20th-26th April on the anniversary of the Rana Plaza factory disaster, which killed 1138 people and injured many more on 24th April 2013 when the factory collapsed. They use the hashtag #whomademyclothes as their campaign to raise awareness of the women kept in harsh and dangerous conditions whilst being made to mass produce clothing for fast fashion companies for a horrifically low wage.

@gettyimages - An image of the Rana Plaza Collapse in 2013.

If you want to find out more about their insightful work, check out Fashion Revolution’s website at https://www.fashionrevolution.org/ and follow their Instagram for latest posts furthering their calling for greater transparency in fashion https://bit.ly/37ufvXX

---

Social media influencers have become such a hub of knowledge for sustainability and continuously provide information on how to live more environmentally friendly through buying clothing responsibly. Here are a few to look at for some inspiration:

@the.ecoiste -

The Ecoiste have nearly 2,000 followers, they may not have a very large following but they effectively provide a “place to explore brands and products made mindfully” they also have a great aesthetic throughout their blog with lovely colour themes.

---

@thehelm_society -

The helm society runs events to raise awareness on the issues facing the industry and highlights designers that focus on sustainability.

---

@ecoage -

Ecoage is a consultancy that helps businesses find sustainable solutions. Livis Firth, the founder of Ecoage, was also the woman behind the clever Green Carpet Challenge which encourages celebrities to reuse an outfit they have previously worn on the red carpet.

---

We hope you have found this blog post enlightening! If you are intrigued on how you could live a more sustainable way of life, as stated in The Bazaar; here is a few simple changes you could make:

1.The 30 wears test

2.Be more informed

3. Shop vintage

4. Invest in trans-seasonal clothes

5. Donate your unwanted clothes

6. Look after your clothes so they last longer

7. Learn how to repair clothing yourself (or find a good tailor)

8. Go for quality over quantity

9. Adjust how you spend your money

10. Change your perspective

“Sustainable fashion has the potential to empower consumers' feeling of fulfilment by making more conscious choices and their consumption of sustainable fashion products” Rueben Amiriara, WTVOX

---

If you would like to volunteer for the fashion show, in anything from dressing models to graphic design or photography, please feel free to drop us a message, our inbox is always open! Our Instagram is @sgfs20 If you would prefer to email instead: bandbevents19@gmail.com