Do you ever think about who made your clothes? When you walk into Primark or Topshop do you stare at the mass amount of clothing and think who made them? As we glide along fluorescent shop floors and rummage through silver rails of wardrobe must haves, it can be easy to forget the people behind mass production.
From concept to creation, there is a person who has made something with their very fingertips. From the visual design to the stitching of fabrics, to the thoughtful decoration and glittering detail, there is a person piecing it together.
Well, the Fashion Revolution is coming and they want you to start taking action.
The Fashion Revolution consists of people from around the world that keep the fashion industry working. It’s anyone that has ever bought an item of clothing, it’s you, and me and everyone who is wearing a garment.
The main mission of the Fashion Revolution is to unite consumers and organisations together in order to transform how our clothing is created. Sustainability and good work ethics being a priority, it wants to liberate wearers and workers at once.
To avoid campaign negativity, they do not target specific brands to name and shame. Instead, they spark conversations with hashtags.
Currently, it is the organisation’s annual Fashion Revolution Week where the hashtag #whomademyclothes is being used as a force for change.
April is a significant month in the fashion world, marked by the anniversary of the Rana Plaza disaster that killed 1138 people and injured hundreds more on the 24th April 2013.
This week, not only do people remember the factory collapse with a heavy heart, brands are being encouraged to respond to activists with the hashtag #imadeyourclothes to show transparency.
The main message here is clothing consciousness, igniting conversation which urges consumers to consider the person behind the clothing they wear. In a celebration of craftmanship, it aims to respect culture, creativity and encourage fair working environments.
If hashtags aren’t your thing, there is another way to support the movement. The Fashion Revolution fanzine is available to read online, or a printed copy can be ordered for £15 +p&p. It’s 124 pages of poetry, illustrations, photography, articles, tips and tricks, interviews and so much more.
The proceeds made from the fanzine all go towards creating more in the future, that in turn helps to expand the campaign.
Check out the fanzine here or follow their Instagram for the latest updates.