ENGAGE YOUR LOCAL POLICYMAKERS
By Sarah Jay
Fashion Revolution Canada
After you Identify Local Issues, use this toolkit for guidance on how to engage with your local policymakers. Use our Identify Your Local Issues Toolkit
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ABOUT THE LEGISLATIVE PROCESS
WHO ARE THE POLICYMAKERS?
Policymakers are individuals or groups involved in the process of creating, influencing, or implementing policies. They can be found across various sectors and levels of governance.
Policymaking is often a collaborative and iterative process involving multiple stakeholders acting in concert, who contribute diverse perspectives to shape effective, inclusive policies.
Key types of stakeholders considered policy makers include:
Government Officials
Legislators
Elected representatives in local, regional, or national legislatures (e g , members of parliament, senators).
Executive Leaders
Presidents, governors, mayors, or other leaders who can propose or enact policies.
Regulatory Agencies
Entities tasked with developing and enforcing regulations (e g , Environmental Protection Agency, Financial Conduct Authority, Health Canada)
Civil Servants
Bureaucrats and public administrators responsible for drafting, implementing, and overseeing policy.
Judicial Bodies
Courts and judges may indirectly act as policymakers by interpreting laws, setting legal precedents, or adjudicating disputes that influence policy.
Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs)
Advocacy groups, like Fashion Revolution, charities, and think tanks that research, advocate for, or develop policy proposals in areas like environmental protection, public health, or social justice.
Private Sector
Industry Leaders
Businesses and trade associations often engage in lobbying, influence legislation, or propose voluntary industry standards.
Consultants and Subject Matter Experts
Specialised firms or individuals who advise on policy strategies.
Academics and Researchers
Universities, research institutions, and individual scholars contribute to evidence-based policy by conducting studies and offering expert opinions.
Community Organisations
Grassroots movements, like Fashion Revolution, local councils, and community leaders play crucial roles in shaping and advocating for policies that address local needs.
International Organisations
Bodies like the United Nations, World Trade Organisation, or World Health Organisation develop and recommend global or regional policies.
Media and Public Opinion Leaders
Journalists, influencers, thought leaders, and even celebrities, can shape public discourse and amass support, thereby indirectly influencing policy makers.
Labor and Professional Associations
Unions, professional guilds, and trade groups advocate for policies that benefit their members.
Civil Society
Individuals and groups representing the broader public, including activists and citizen advisory panels, participate in policymaking processes through public consultations or protests.
HOW ARE POLICIES, LEGISLATION & LAWS MADE,
AMENDED, & DEVELOPED?
A general knowledge of your local legislative processes will help illuminate opportunities to engage and contribute to the creation and improvement of laws. While legislative processes vary around the world, they typically follow some common stages aimed at proposing, reviewing, and enacting laws.
Here is a general overview of these processes:
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Proposal of Legislation
Laws usually start as proposals, introduced by a member of the legislative body (e.g., a member of parliament or congress). In some systems, government agencies or ministers propose bills, especially on issues related to budget or national security. Certain countries also allow citizen initiatives, where people can propose laws if they gather a designated number of signatures. Examples include:
↳ The European Citizens Initiative
↳ United States Citizen Initatives by State
First Reading and Introduction
In most countries, the proposed bill is given a first reading, which serves as a formal introduction to the legislative body. This step typically involves reading the bill’s title and general purpose, with little or no debate at this stage.
Committee Review and Analysis
More information on citizen initiatives can be found in this important guide by the International Observatory on Participatory Democracy.
The bill is referred to a relevant committee for in-depth examination. Committees may hold hearings, invite experts, and gather information to assess the bill’s implications. In some systems, committees have significant power to amend, rewrite, or even block bills from progressing.
Debate and Amendments
Once the committee has reviewed the bill, it moves to the legislative floor for a second reading, where members debate its merits and may propose amendments. In systems with multiple legislative chambers (e.g., bicameral systems like those in the US or UK), the bill must pass through both chambers, often with debates and amendments in each.
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Voting and Approval
After debates and any amendments, the legislative body votes on the bill. If it passes in a bicameral system, it then moves to the second chamber, which may review, amend, and vote on it separately. In unicameral systems (one legislative body, like in Sweden or Denmark), a single vote is sufficient for the bill to move to the next stage.
Reconciliation Between Chambers (if applicable)
In bicameral systems, if the second chamber makes changes, the bill may go to a reconciliation or conference committee to resolve differences between versions passed by each chamber. Both chambers must then agree on the final text.
Approval by the Head of State
Once both chambers (or the single legislative body in a unicameral system) pass the bill, it usually goes to the head of state (e.g., president, monarch, or prime minister) for approval or assent. In some countries, the head of state has veto power, meaning they can refuse to sign the bill into law, though the legislature may override the veto with a sufficient majority (e.g., the United States).
Enactment and Publication
After receiving approval, the bill becomes an act or law. It is then published in an official government journal or gazette, and an effective date is usually set. Some countries allow a grace period before the law goes into effect, to give time for institutions and citizens to prepare for any required changes.
Judicial Review (if challenged)
In countries with judicial review, courts may assess the constitutionality or legality of new laws. If a law conflicts with a region or country's existing constitution, it may be struck down or modified.
The specifics of this general framework vary by country and region, in terms of how committee power, executive vetoes, citizen input, and judicial review are handled. Each nation’s specific legislative process reflects its unique political and legal traditions.
PREPARING TO CONNECT
The checklist below provides steps you may wish to take to facilitate new connections and the expansion of your social network as you prepare to engage with the right local policymakers.
CONNECT WITH YOUR LOCAL FASHION REVOLUTION TEAM
If your country or region doesn’t have a group, consider connecting with a country group in your region that speaks the same language.
Note there is an Induction Waiting List for certain countries that are in the process of formalising their groups. Please reach out to globalnetwork@fashionrevolution.org for support, or to be connected with the Induction Waiting List countries.
Connect with your local country team
If your country does not currently have a group and is not cited on the Waiting List, consider founding your own Fashion Revolution group. A minimum of two people are needed to create a volunteer team. Please do not create any social media accounts in your country until your team has been fully inducted.
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Take every opportunity to connect with the Global Network and other Country Groups in your region, especially those who have tackled similar challenges. There is much wisdom in our vast global network of volunteers, and many opportunities to share resources and expertise.
Ensure your regional group is connected to Slack, has an official email (which will be given during the official onboarding), and is registered to receive the bi-weekly Newsletter and internal Bulletin.
You can explore the following resources for guidance on how to identify challenges and community organise internally:
GET SET UP ON SOCIAL
Sign up for LinkedIn
In addition to being a powerful tool for career development, LinkedIn allows you to search for and connect with various stakeholders and interest groups, not to mention, Fashion Revolution’s Global Network.
Sign up for Facebook
Facebook can also be a valuable tool for accessing special interest and community groups; connecting with like minds.
Sign up for Instagram
Ensure that you are using your country’s registered handle and the appropriate hashtags. It may be worthwhile to create a new hashtag for your initiative, cause, or specific goal.
Meta Business Suite can help to streamline posting and engagement on both Facebook and Instagram.
Change.org
We touch on this later in Section 7Amassing Support, but you may wish to register for Change.org, an important platform for creating and distributing online petitions, gaining support, and establishing proof of critical mass.
BUILDING YOUR NETWORK
Based on your research from the Identify Local Issues Toolkit, you’ll now have a sense of which issues are priorities, where your country or region currently stands on these issues, and the gaps or opportunities where you might like to try to affect change.
The next task is to match your issue with key stakeholders (policymakers) and groups who are currently and actively addressing the issue. These stakeholders could be:
↳ government officials at any level (municipal, provincial, state level, or federal).
↳ academics and researchers
↳ NGO’s currently working on the issue
↳ union representatives
↳ business owners throughout the supply chain
↳ journalists who report on the issue
↳ activists and influencers
Where to find them?
Government Websites
Visit websites of government ministries or agencies, such as the Ministry of Commerce, Labor, or Environment, which often publish laws and policies relevant to the fashion industry.
Public Records and Official Journals
Many governments publish annual updates on legislative changes in public bulletins or gazettes, accessible via libraries or online.
Universities and Academic Databases
Published authors of peer reviewed articles; faculty at local universities.
Google is your friend Search Add Follow Connect
Local Advocacy Groups
Groups focused on labour rights or environmental issues often publish guides to relevant laws. Partnering with these organisations can also provide insights into recent policy changes.
Consult Legal Experts
Where available, engage with local lawyers who specialise in commercial or environmental law to clarify complex legislative matters.
BUILD YOUR CONTACT LIST
Use this template to set up your contact list and track your progress connecting with key policy stakeholders. This progress will be important later for Fashion Revolution’s Annual Impact report. Each connection made is a key performance indicator (KPI) - a valuable metric that can be reported as evidence of Fashion Revolution’s impact and reach.
Tip
When building your network and making connections, you may not connect with the best point person right off the bat. It is ok to CC or BCC multiple stakeholders at once when reaching out, and it's also ok to ask for a referral to the best person with whom to discuss an issue further.
TAILOR YOUR MESSAGE
Write your message in advance, define your channel, consider your audience, and make sure you address the issue clearly. Ask for concrete action and make suggestions. You may also wish to ask for the opportunity to meet and discuss an issue further. Substantiate your issue with evidence, data, first hand accounts. Address what matters most to policymakers: impact, improving peoples’ lives, improving systems, etc. and where relevant, how addressing your issue of concern can help to raise their profile as effective politicians.
Writing Tips for Formal Correspondence
Be succinct
Aim for your letter to be no longer than one page; emails no longer than 250 words.
Don’t forget to include your address
So that your MP knows where to send the response should they wish to respond by letter.
Keep to the point Focus on one issue and don’t try to cover too many things in one letter.
Check your MP’s correct title
Do you address them as Mr, Mrs, Dr, Sir, Rt. Hon? You can check by looking up your MP on the official Parliament website.
TAKING ACTION
When addressing members of parliament and government officials, you may wish to follow the EPIC format:
EEngage your MP
Get your MP’s attention with a significant fact or short statement. State the problem
P IPresent the causes of the problem you just introduced. How widespread or serious is the problem? Inform the MP about the solutions
Develop your solution by giving examples of how and where it has worked, how it is cost-effective and how it has benefited the poorest. Call to Action
CNow that you’ve engaged your MP, presented the problem and informed them of a solution, you need to let them know what you want them to do about it.
Do not feel discouraged if you don’t hear back right away. Advocacy takes time. Policymaking takes time. It also takes collective action. It is through collective pressure that policymakers prioritise topics and pass laws. Tip
Keep track of correspondence attempts, and follow up regularly Activists are squeaky wheels.
REPORTING
Enter the names of stakeholders into your Contact List.
Make note of when and how you reach out to them, and enter details of their responses.
Compiling information in a spreadsheet as opposed to leaving it in your email or social DMs will make it easier to share amongst your Fashion Revolution group.
Your Contact List is not unlike a Customer Relationship Management program and helps us to stay organised with important correspondence activities and keep track of KPIs.
Keep KPIs in mind throughout your engagement process. Note there are columns in the Contact List Template to help you tally and report your progress. Each connection, interaction, event, and initiative becomes an important detail that can be leveraged to support the growth of our movement. Keeping track is essential.
Examples of KPIs are listed on page 15 of the Fashion Revolution Week 2025 Briefing Deck.
Make note of key events, campaigns and initiatives promoted by your stakeholders that may present opportunities to connect in person and expand your network.
Fashion Revolution Week 2025 Briefing Deck
Depending on the type of stakeholder and the nature of the connection, sending an informal note or DM may be appropriate. In more formal contexts (ie: for government officials, and members of parliament) a formal email or letter may be more appropriate.
OPPORTUNITIES TO ENGAGE IN THE LEGISLATIVE PROCESS
Engage in the legislative process in the following ways:
Attend Public Meetings and Hearings
Many governments hold public meetings, hearings, or consultations on various policy issues. These can provide opportunities to meet policymakers in person, ask questions, and gain insight into their priorities and perspectives.
Participate in Policy Forums and Conferences
Policy-focused events, forums, and conferences are often attended by policymakers, industry leaders, and activists. Attending these events can provide direct contact with policymakers and a platform for building connections.
Join Advocacy Groups or Industry Associations
Many advocacy groups and industry associations have established relationships with policymakers. Joining one aligned with your interests can give you access to events, lobbying efforts, and networking opportunities with officials.
Use Social Media Strategically
Schedule a Meeting or Write Letters
If you have specific concerns or ideas, reach out to your local representative’s office to request a meeting or write a formal letter. Local representatives are often open to meeting constituents or discussing issues that affect their communities.
Many policymakers are active on platforms like Twitter, LinkedIn, and Facebook. Engage with them by following their profiles, commenting on relevant posts, or sharing their updates with thoughtful responses to show your support or perspective.
Leverage Online Platforms for Public Policy Engagement
Some countries have digital platforms where citizens can participate in policy discussions, leave comments on proposed legislation, or even submit petitions. Engage with these platforms to get noticed by policymakers and join broader conversations.
Participate in Workshops and Policy Trainings
Some nonprofits and advocacy groups offer workshops on engaging with policymakers, lobbying, and understanding the legislative process. These can teach you effective ways to communicate with and influence policymakers.
Engage Local Media Outlet
Publishing articles or letters to the editor on policy issues you care about can catch the attention of policymakers, especially if you mention specific actions or legislation.
Engage in Public Comment Periods
Many government agencies allow public comments on proposed regulations or policies. Submitting well-informed comments can put your views on record and get them directly in front of policymakers.
Volunteer for a Campaign or Office
Volunteering on a political campaign or at a policymaker’s office gives you a behind-the-scenes look at their work and can lead to relationships with influential contacts.
Invite and include
Invite key stakeholders and notables to:
↳ Participate in your Fashion Revolution Week events like a Mend in Public Day
↳ Do a short online interview or Q&A for social media
↳ Join in on a local Fashion Revolution Exec or Board meeting
↳ Join you for coffee
↳ Connect via Zoom to have an informal or formal meeting about a specific issue of concern
↳ follow you on social media, connect on LinkedIn
ALLIES AND OPPOSITION
Perhaps it goes without saying that we will find strength in numbers by connecting with our allies. Our allies need our support. We increase and demonstrate critical mass by convening, communing, and connecting with like minds.
But important progress is also made when we engage with our perceived opposition. Listening to and learning from people who don’t share our goals and values is incredibly meaningful and strategically advantageous, especially when it provokes re-evaluation.
By engaging our opponents:
We might be removing, or neutralising, a potentially harmful critic
We might gain insight into the workings, community, or culture of an opponent
To solve tough problems, the energy of many groups may be required
We can get to know our opponents as people
We could acquire new resources to solve a common problem
Involving our opponents can change the status quo and plant the seeds of change that rarely blossom overnight
We can find common values and beliefs we didn't know were there
We might gain access to a group that has been previously closed
We can build a base of trust that might be helpful in the future
Significant change often takes time.
It is important to remember that:
Opponents come in varying degrees. Not everyone who might oppose you will defend themselves vehemently. Those who are slightly or mildly opposed are potential targets for change. Some people may oppose you because they don't understand your issue, or simply out of habit. When you talk with them further, you might find they are not your opponents at all.
Opposition depends upon the issue. Someone may be opposed to you on issue A, but that doesn't mean they will be opposed on issue B. On issue B, they could be your strongest ally. So be careful about making generalisations.
Opposition is not forever. Your opponents' position may change over time. Your position may change. Remaining polite, respectful, and diplomatic pays off in both the short and long term.
The issues we aim to tackle are complex, highly nuanced, and not black or white.
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AMASSING SUPPORT
Petitions
Petitions are a great way to show support for your efforts, get the attention of the community and of decision-makers, and bring about change by demonstrating the importance of key issues to a critical mass. Petitions demonstrate group strength and epitomise collective action.
Petitions can help advance a cause by:
Raising awareness and signalling public opinion to decision-makers, thereby influencing their decisions
Showing the media that there is a story worth covering
Helping organisations to gain supporters and identify folks who may want to get more involved on an issue
Providing an accessible avenue for activism and civic engagement, inviting people who might not otherwise get involved to participate.
Resources like Change.org make it easy to create and share your online petition and reach thousands of new potential supporters in minutes.
Amplifying your voice and demonstrating the power of the collective can be a vital tool in convincing decision makers to take notice and ultimately take action on your issue.
SAFETY DISCLAIMER
We acknowledge the varying political landscape worldwide where some systems are more open than others to citizen engagement, participation, and criticism. Some of the fashion industry’s most harmful outcomes, like human trafficking, may operate concentrically with other topes of criminal activity.
Fashion Revolution does not encourage civil disobedience, rallies, protests, or demonstrations, which can absolutely be powerful tools and enriching, connective experiences, but do fall outside of Fashion Revolution's scope and approach. We stand for collaboration, dialogue, and community.
If you encounter any opposition to your work as an activist and volunteer that could jeopardize your safety, please desist immediately.
The goal of FRW2025 is to encourage grassroots community organisation efforts that help each of us to maximise our rights and voices as citizens.
CASE STUDIES
NEW YORK’S FASHION ACT
The New York Fashion Sustainability and Social Accountability Act (S7428A), commonly known as the Fashion Act, is a legislative proposal to increase transparency and accountability within the fashion industry.
The Fashion Act seeks to hold major fashion companies accountable for their environmental and social impacts by requiring:
Supply chain mapping
Disclosure of environmental and social due diligence policies
Setting and reporting on impact reduction targets
Enforcement would be led by the New York Attorney General, with penalties for non-compliance potentially reaching up to 2% of annual revenues over $450 million.
Below is a summary of its timeline and key steps:
October 2021
Senator Alessandra Biaggi introduced the Fashion Act to the New York State Legislature.
January 2022
The bill gained significant attention as it proposed requiring fashion companies operating in New York with annual revenues exceeding $100 million to map their supply chains, disclose environmental and social impacts, and set tangible targets for improvement.
November 2022
Amendments were made to strengthen the bill, shifting its focus from mere disclosure to mandating concrete actions by companies to address identified social and environmental harms.
January 2023
The updated bill received support from various brands, labor unions, and civil society groups, including Patagonia, Stella McCartney, Everlane, Reformation, Workers United, RWDSU, and the NRDC.
June 2023
Sponsors aimed to bring the act to a vote during the New York State Senate legislative session, which runs from January through June.
June 2024
The Fashion Act failed to pass for the third consecutive year, despite ongoing advocacy efforts. Supporters of the bill have expressed their commitment to continue pushing for its adoption in future legislative sessions.
2025
The coalition behind the bill plans to reintroduce it in 2025. As the Sourcing Journal reports, “Momentum for the so-called “New York bill with a global reach” has never been stronger. More than 90 legislators are now co-sponsors of the Fashion Act, which seeks to hold big fashion businesses selling into the Empire State accountable for their hefty environmental footprints. The number of brands, manufacturers, NGOs, students, ambassadors—even Hollywood A-listers like Leonardo DiCaprio and Angelina Jolie—that have come out in support of the measure has likewise quadrupled since it was introduced in 2021. Other states, including California and Washington, are in the process of formulating similar bills of their own. ”
Important Takeaway
Significant, system-wide, legally-binding change doesn’t happen overnight. The road can be long, but the fight is worth fighting. Celebrate each milestone and victory along the way.
CANADA’S LEGISLATIVE PROCESS
A bill is a proposal to create, change, or repeal a law in the Canadian legislative process. A bill can originate in either the Senate or the House of Commons and must pass through several stages in each chamber before becoming law.
This video provides an overview of how a bill becomes law in Canada
In Canada there are 3 Types of Bills:
Government Bills
These bills are submitted by the government to Parliament for approval and possible amendment. They are usually introduced in the House of Commons and relate to matters of public interest.
Private Members Bills
These bills are intended to grant special powers, benefits, or exemptions to a specific person or group of people. They are usually introduced in the Senate, but can also be introduced in the House of Commons.
Committee Bills
These bills are introduced by the Chairs of certain Standing Committees and must relate to the ministries and offices assigned to the committee.
A bill becomes law in Canada after it passes through the following stages:
Introduction
A bill is proposed in either the Senate or the House of Commons.
Readings
The bill passes through three readings in each chamber
First reading
The bill is received, printed, and circulated
Second reading
The principle of the bill is debated
Third reading
The bill is put to a vote
Committee stage
The bill is sent to a committee for study, where witnesses may speak on its merits
Report stage
The committee reports back to the House or Senate, and any motions to amend the bill are debated
Royal Assent
The bill passes its final third reading and is sent to the Governor General for final approval
Proclamation date
The bill comes into force and becomes law
The Governor General is the Monarch's representative in Canada. The law becomes an act and is renumbered once it comes into force.
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES
Influencing Politics With Signatures
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Help us keep our resources open source and free for all, so we can create a fashion industry that values people and planet over profit.
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