N O I H S A F N O I T U L O V E R T C A P IM T R O P RE
2021
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About Us
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Theory of Change
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Why we still need a Fashion Revolution
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How we are funded
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Fashion Revolution on social media
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Fashion Revolution Week
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Fashion Revolution Week in numbers
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Rights, Relationships & Revolution
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Partnerships
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Fashion Question Time
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Fashion Revolution Week resources
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Who Made My Clothes
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I Made Your Clothes
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What’s In My Clothes
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Loved Clothes Last
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Fashion Revolutionaries
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Global Network
54
Global Network case studies
57
Fashion Open Studio
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Fashion Open Studio case studies
66
Worker stories
74
Who Made My Fabric
78
Out of Sight report
84
Covid-19 impact
86
Garment Worker Diaries
88
Bangladesh Accord
90
Policy advocacy
92
Fashion Transparency Index
100
Fashion Transparency Index Brazil
110
Fashion Transparency Index Mexico
112
Consumer Survey Report
114
British Council x Fashion Revolution
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Small but Perfectly Formed
120
Futurelearn course
122
Black Friday
128
Daily Planner
130
European Citizens’ Initiative
132
Manifesto for a Fashion Revolution
136
Reflections
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We are Fashion Revolution
Fashion Revolution is a global movement for a fashion industry that conserves and restores the environment and values people over profit and growth. We campaign for a clean, safe, fair, transparent and accountable fashion industry. We do this through research, education, collaboration, mobilisation and advocacy. The issues in the fashion industry never fall on any single person, brand, or company. We focus on using our voices to transform the entire system.
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Our aims are:
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An end to human and environmental exploitation in the global fashion industry
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Safe, dignified working conditions and living wages for all people in the supply chain
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Redistributed and more equal balance of power across the global fashion industry
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A bigger and stronger labour movement in the global fashion industry
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A global fashion industry that works to conserve precious resources and regenerate ecosystems
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A culture of transparency and accountability across the value chain
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An end to throwaway culture and shift to a system where materials are used for much longer and nothing goes to waste
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Heritage, craftsmanship and local wisdoms are recognised and valued 5
Theory of change Cultural change Raise public awareness and educate people about the systemic challenges facing the global fashion industry Build a diverse movement, mobilise communities and bring people together around the world to take collective action Help people understand the impacts of their clothes and how they can influence the global fashion industry Collaborate with artists and activists to reframe powerful narratives embedded in the culture of fashion Create tools for people to use their voice and make changes in their personal lives and work Inspire people to consume less, value quality and take better care of their clothes Provide a platform that enables more visibility and fewer barriers between consumers and producers 6
Industry change Conduct research that shines a light on the social and environmental impacts of the global fashion industry Highlight where the industry is moving too slowly and push for faster change Influence brands and retailers to change through consumer pressure Incentivise and promote transparency and accountability across the supply chain
Policy change Advocate for policy changes and influence governments to play a more active role in better enforcing laws and regulating the industry
We believe that fashion can lift millions of people out of poverty and provide them with decent and dignified livelihoods. It can conserve and restore our living planet. It can bring people together and be a great source of joy, creativity and expression for individuals and communities. 7
Read the paper
Why we still need a Fashion Revolution In 2020, we published our Fashion Revolution White Paper, setting out the key outcomes we want to see in the global fashion industry as a result of our work by the year 2025. Here is an update on our progress so far….
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Our outcomes by 2025:
1 Increased public understanding of the social and environmental impacts of clothing We’ve seen a huge increase in the number of people engaging with our resources, enabling them to learn more about the issues in the fashion industry from our social media content, online courses, press coverage, research reports and more. *details on page 14*
2 Reduced clothing production and consumption by volume and increased alternatives to consumption Throughout the pandemic, we’ve witnessed a massive cultural shift towards consumers engaging with second-hand and sustainable fashion, from renting and swapping to upcycling and mending. We are proud of our role in educating people about alternatives to mainstream fashion consumption during lockdown. *details on page 114*
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3 Increased transparency among major brands and retailers, enabling more people to hold companies to account for working conditions, wages and environmental impacts
Our 2021 Fashion Transparency Index is a powerful tool to incentivise greater transparency in the fashion supply chain. This year, 47% of major brands disclosed first tier suppliers (compared to 40% in 2020), 27% disclosed processing facilities (compared to 24% in 2020), 11% disclosed raw material suppliers (compared to 7% in 2020). *details on page 100*
4 A new dominant cultural narrative based on transparency, respecting human rights and dignity and conserving the environment becomes a driving force for the public and the fashion industry
Throughout the year, we’ve created free, accessible, open-source content, events and resources that educate our community about the urgency of transforming the fashion system, and providing the tools to help them take action. During Fashion Revolution Week 2021, we introduced a key theme that linked human rights with the rights of nature, engaging millions of people with this new dominant cultural narrative. *details on page 18*
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5 Better policy and regulation improves working conditions, wages and ecosystems
We have been laying the groundwork for a new European Citizens Initiative on living wages for garment workers and lobbying for Mandatory Human Rights and Environmental Due Diligence in the fashion supply chain. Globally, we have supported various campaigns for strengthened policy on fashion such as the Garment Worker Protection Act in California, USA and the European Sustainable Textile Strategy. Find *details on page 92*
6 New business models that measure success on more than just growth are thriving
Our designer mentoring and showcasing initiative Fashion Open Studio has championed dozens of international independent designers who are changing and challenging the fashion system from the inside out. We are also helping to support the acceleration of SMEs that prioritise circularity and sustainability through our #SmallButPerfect programme. *details on pages 62 and 120*
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How we are funded Core grant 33% Sales 3%
Donations 11% Partnerships 49% Other 4%
r u o f o l l a o t u o y k n a h t e g u h A l a i t n e s s e r i e h t r o f s r o n o d generous . s h t n o m 2 1 t s a p e h t r e v o t r suppo 12
How we spend our funding General 6% Fanzine 2%
Creative 5% Operational 10%
Events 9% Community 13% Fundraising 2%
Comms 5%
Programming 31% Policy 12%
Fashion Revolution Week 6%
We hope to continu e to grow our team a n d strengthen our Glob al Network, develop vital industry resea rch, advocate for tougher legislation and support the ne x t generation of chan gemakers.
DONATE
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n o i h Fas Revolution on
Social Media
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Throughout the year, we use social media, email newsletters and blog posts as accessible, open source, decentralised tools for education, inspiration and activism. Beginning life in the wake of the Rana Plaza tragedy, our strength is now in our vast numbers of changemakers from every corner of the world. Since we started Fashion Revolution in 2013, we have helped to catapult conversations about building a better fashion industry into the mainstream. Though social media channels have become increasingly more complex and organic growth can be difficult to acheive, we continue to grow our social media presence into engaging platforms that leverage new audiences and expand our movement. Our followers, readers and subscribers are a healthy mix of consumers and industry professionals, now spread across six continents, from the USA to Australia, Italy to Brazil, and aged all the way from 18-54. 15
We use social media to:
& s s e n e r a w a c i l b u Raise p e h t t u o b a e l p o e p e educat g n i c a f s e g n e l l a h c systemic . y r t s u d n i n o i h s a f l the globa
Create tools for p eople to use their voice an d make changes in their personal lives and work.
Inspire people to consume less, value qualit y and take better care of the ir clothes
, t n e m e v o m e s r e v i Build a d s e i t i n u m m o c e s i l i b mo r e h t e g o t e l p o e p g and brin e k a t o t d l r o w e h t d aroun . n o i t c a e collectiv
Fashion Revolution’s combined social media following over time: 800k
802k
600k
400k 287k 200k
2014
2018
2021
We are proud that Fashion Revolution has been at the forefront of pushing for systemic change. But our story is far from over. We are only just getting started. We won’t stop until every worker who makes our clothes is seen, heard and paid properly and the environments they live and work in are safe. We can’t stop until the culture of consumption is changed and we learn to love and appreciate our clothes and the people that made them. 17
n o i h s a F
Revolution k e We 2021
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Fashion Revolution Week is the time when we come together as a global community to show what a better fashion industry could look like. The week coincides with the anniversary of the Rana Plaza factory collapse in Bangladesh, which killed around 1,138 people and injured many more on 24th April 2013. This year, as we marked 8 years since the tragedy, we brought people together from across our community, amplified unheard and marginalised voices, and worked together to explore and showcase solutions.
Find out more
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FASHION REVOLUTION WEEK IS HAPPENING 19-26 APRIL, 2021 SIGN UP
Fashion Revolution Week is the time when we come together as a global community to create a better fashion industry. It centres around the anniversary of the Rana Plaza factory collapse, which killed 1,138 people and injured many more on 24 April 2013. This year, as we mark 8 years since the tragedy, Fashion Revolution Week will focus on the interconnectedness of human rights and the rights of nature. Our campaign will amplify unheard voices across the fashion supply chain and harness the creativity of our community to explore innovative and interconnected solutions.
WHAT IS FASHION REVOLUTION WEEK? FASHION REVOLUTION WEEK 2021 - RIGHTS, RELATIONSHIPS AND REVOLUTION
GET INVOLVED On this page you’ll find a comprehensive collection of ways to get involved in Fashion Revolution Week 2021. Let’s start with the basics:
Follow Fashion Revolution on social media Take your pick of Instagram, Twitter, Facebook or LinkedIn, or follow us everywhere. This is the best way to get live updates on the campaign and join the conversation. If you’re outside of the UK, find your country team and their social channels here.
Sign up to the newsletter
Download digital campaign assets
Find your country team
In the run up to Fashion Revolution Week, our weekly newsletter will have all the latest news and updates on the campaign and the step by steps of how to get involved. An easy way to stay in the loop.
Find a collection of promotional content, including social media assets, posters and the official Fashion Revolution branding pack. Everything you need to spread the word and get people interested.
Fashion Revolution is a global movement with teams all over the world. Search for your local team here and support their 2021 Fashion Revolution Week campaigns.
SIGN UP
DOWNLOAD ASSETS
FIND YOUR COUNTRY
FOLLOW US
DOWNLOAD A GET INVOLVED PACK Below, you’ll find our guides to Fashion Revolution Week designed for every kind of revolutionary. Whoever you are, and however you identify with fashion, we’ve created a guide to help you join in.
f o w e i v r e v o k c A qui
1 2 0 2 k e e W n o i t u l o v e R n o i Fash in numbers
63k
reads of Fashion Revolution’s free published resources
1.7k
press features
284k
people engaged with Fashion Revolution on social media
4.2m
posts with Fashion Revolution hashtags
4.9b
global press reach
569m
177k
new followers on social media
24k+
total reach of Fashion Revolution social media channels
new learners on our free online courses
230k
21.9k
global network event attendees
Fashion Revolution event attendees
434
global partnerships
Numbers are surrounding Fashion Revolution Week only
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s t h Rig
Relationships
& Revolution
The theme that sparked this year’s Fashion Revolution Week was Rights, Relationships & Revolution. Human rights and the rights of nature are interconnected and interdependent; we are part of the wider living world and our right to a healthy environment depends on the health of our planet. The human exploitation and ecosystem degradation we see all around us today are the product of centuries of colonialism and globalised exploitation. They stem from a western-focused worldview in which human and environmental prosperity are seen as isolated and disconnected from each other. They stem from a fashion industry that reinforces inequality and devalues the voices of minority groups, people of colour, women and non-western perspectives. And they stem from a fashion industry which operates opaquely and continues to sidestep responsibility. We cannot continue to extract dwindling resources from an already stressed natural world, pollute our land and our oceans, fall far short of climate change targets and dump our waste on the shoulders of countries we have culturally depleted. Nor can we continue to allow big business to profit whilst supply chain workers struggle to live in dignity. 23
We believe we need a radical shift in our relationships – with each other, with our clothes, within fashion supply chains and with the natural world. We need this revolution for our own prosperity and wellbeing, and for the health of our earth and our oceans. And it’s already starting to happen. Covid-19 has prompted growing numbers of people to reassess what’s meaningful in their lives. We have begun to reimagine the values at the essence of a new fashion system and explore new relationships with our clothing. Now we need brands to change their relationships with each other, replacing competition with collaboration to solve the major challenges facing the industry. We need a shift in the relationships between brands and suppliers, so that the rights of people and the rights of nature hold more of the power wherever decisions are being made. And we need environmentalists, human rights groups, industry, governments, unions and citizens to work together to ensure that human rights and the rights of nature are addressed in unison. Collaboration and mutual support are essential, because we are more powerful voices for change when we all work together.
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1 2 0 2 k e e W n o i t u l o v e R n o i h Fas Partnerships For Fashion Revolution Week 2021, we joined forces with five leading non-profit organisations to campaign for change together, producing a range of engaging content and virtual events on both social and environmental issues in the fashion industry.
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Canopy An organisation working to transform unsustainable forest product supply chains by engaging businesses as champions for conservation and sustainability.
Outputs
Outcomes
Collaborative social media content with a reach of 172,849 on Instagram
Amplified unheard voices of activists in Global South and communities directly impacted by deforestation
A digital conversation ‘Forest Rights are Human Rights' with Indonesian activist Woro Supartinah and FR Brazil director Fernanda Simon, attended by 414 people in the Fashion Revolution community.
An Interview on forests, fashion and the Climate Breakthrough Award between Canopy founder Nicole Rycroft and sustainable fashion commentator Clare Press on Wardrobe Crisis, a charttopping podcast with more than 1 million downloads.
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Increased audiences understanding of fashion’s relationship to forests
Created an emotional connection between nature, workers and consumers through digital storytelling and shared inspiring solutions.
Directed traffic to Canopy’s channels, creating a significant increase in social media following and press enquiries.
“We got to bring our subject to a broader audience. Helping make that direct tie between environmental and human rights was very important; it planted seeds that we will harvest throughout the year.”
Nicole Rycroft, Founder of Canopy
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Cultural Intellectual Property Rights Initiative (CIPRI) A worldwide movement supporting the recognition of cultural IP rights for craftspeople who are the custodians of traditional garments, designs and techniques.
Outputs
Outcomes
Collaborative social media content with a reach of 106,148 on Instagram
Educated the Fashion Revolution audience and encouraged social discourse about cultural sustainability in fashion.
A live-streamed webinar: ‘Cultural intellectual property rights and the rights of nature: How do Indigenous Communities protect their textile cultural expressions and conserve biodiversity’. Representatives of Indegenous Communities from India, Laos and Sweden took part in the panel discussion, which was attended by 1,700 people
Engaged industry professionals to incorporate the learnings in their design practice, and provided citizens with the tools to spot cultural appropriation and hold brands to account.
Increased visibility of CIPRI’s social channels, increasing social media following.
Continued collaborating with and amplifying CIPRI’s work through digital content such as blog posts beyond Fashion Revolution Week.
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“Underprivileged communities and unheard voices received representation and global exposure of their important work.”
Monica Boța Moisin, Founder of Cultural Intellectual Property Rights Initiative
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Plastic Pollution Coalition An alliance of more than 1,200 organizations, businesses, and thought leaders in 75 countries working toward a world free of plastic pollution and its toxic impact on humans, animals, waterways, the ocean, and the environment.
Outputs
Outcomes
Collaborative social media content reaching 145,919 people on Instagram
Showcased the connection between fashion and plastics and the impact of plastic pollution on human health, wellbeing communities and nature.
An online panel discussion about fashion’s toxic relationship with plastic called ‘Unwoven: Phasing Plastic Out of Fashion’. The panel featured Lauren Ritchie, Maxine Bédat, Imari Walker Karega and Tahirah Hairston and was attended by 591 people.
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Equipped the audience with the resources to take action, for example by shopping more mindfully for plasticfree fabrics, laundering their clothing more responsibly, and holding fashion brands accountable for their environmental impact.
“The webinar gave a platform to young Women of Colour, not companies using the platforms to greenwash. It wasn’t corporate, but revolutionary.”
Emily di Frisco, Director of Communications, Plastic Pollution Coalition
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World Fair Trade Organisation (WFTO) A global community of over 1,000 social enterprises and 1,500 shops that practice Fair Trade principles across 76 countries.
Outputs
Outcomes
Collaborative social media content reaching 122,455 people on Instagram
Showcased Fair Trade artisans and producers to an international audience
Guest blog post ‘Are artisans the future of fashion?’ read by 1,000 people Mass translation of producer resources into 12 international languages #IMadeYourClothes Fair Trade producer interviews viewed by 11,039 people Instagram live on ‘Can social enterprise revolutionise fashion’, attended by 4,600 people featuring Fair Trade entrepreneurs, designers and producers World Fair Trade Day livestreamed panel discussion on ‘Artisan Alternatives for Fair Fashion’, attended by 1,648 people.
Educated brands and consumers on the benefits of Fair Trade business models
Made producer resources more accessible to the global community
“Fashion Revolution are doing a good job in showcasing alternatives to fast fashion, such as Fair Trade. Together, our webinars have really helped us reach young people and activists with a more radical approach.” Erinch Sahan, CEO of World Fair Trade Organisation
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Tamil Nadu Alliance A coalition of 100 grassroots civil society organisations working to improve the conditions of workers in the textile sector of Tamil Nadu, India.
Outputs
Outcomes
Extensive digital activism campaign focused on Goal 1 of the Tamil Nadu Declaration for brands and retailers expand supply chain transparency beyond tier 1 manufacturing facilities
Mobilised the public to demand brand action on transparency beyond tier one, demanding greater visibility of abuses of human rights and the rights of nature
See pag e 78 for more informa tion abo ut the Who Ma de My Fa bric campai gn, inclu ding impact statistic s
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Raised awareness in our community of the prevalence of exploitation in the most hidden parts of the supply chain Engaged brands in conversations about transparency on raw materials, fabric processing and production Increased public disclosure of textile production sites in the fashion supply chain. By making this information public, workers and civil society organisations are able to identify and connect with international businesses that are sourcing from spinning mills to improve working conditions.
Partnership packs We created follow-up toolkits to help continue the conversations hosted during Fashion Revolution Week to enable our network to give global perspectives and responses to issues such as the impact of the fashion industry’s plastic pollution or cultural appropriation.
Other partnerships Throughout the year, we also support and collaborate with dozen of other organisations which improve the conditions of people working in the fashion supply chain and strive for environmental action through policy, industry and cultural change. This includes co-signing open letters, collectively lobbying for policy change, sharing content and campaigns and meeting regularly with our allies to align campaigning efforts for maximum impact. Our Global Network of Fashion Revolutionaries also work collaboratively with partnering organisations on various projects, resulting in nearly 500 global partnerships in 2021.
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Question n o i h s Fa Time Our virtual events this year shone a spotlight on some of the most pressing issues affecting people and the planet, bringing together leading experts in our movement alongside unheard voices from across the fashion system. Fashion Question Time: Rights, Relationships and Revolution is our annual roundtable discussion on the future of the fashion industry. This year, the event was moderated by Baroness Lola Young, co-chair and cross-bench peer for the UK’s All-Party Parliamentary Group: Ethics and Sustainability in Fashion. Panelists included: Nicole Rycroft, founder and executive director of Canopy, Nazma Akter, a Bangladeshi trade unionist, founder of AWAJ Foundation and Sommilito Garments Sramik Federation, Lara Wolters, a Dutch politician and member of the European Parliament, and Sunny Dolat, a stylist, production designer and creative director, co-founder of The Nest Collective and member of Fashion Revolution Kenya. The discussion was live-streamed for free on Youtube with over 2,200 views, and was supported by the V&A Museum with speeches from its director Tristram Hunt.
Watch here 37
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Fashion Revolution USA Fashion Revolution USA hosted a policy level panel discussion about the SB62 Garment Worker Bill in California. The panellists included: Senator María Elena Durazo, representing California’s Senate District 24; Dr. Elizabeth Segran, senior staff writer at Fast Company; Ayesha Barenblat, founder and CEO of Remake; Marissa Nuncio, director of Garment Worker Center; Santos Say Velasquez, Los Angeles-based garment worker; and Sarah Ditty, global policy director at Fashion Revolution.
Watch here
Fashion Revolution Philippines Fashion Revolution Philippines also organised the first Fashion Question Time event in the region, which expanded on the policy report the team published exploring the impact of the importation of second-hand clothing - called Ukay Ukay - in the Philippines. The panel featured Assistant Professor Luisito Abueg, Engr. Aloysius C. Mapalo representing Baguio City Mayor’s Office, William Barry H. Camique from Segunda Mana, Anna Lagon from Bayo Manila Inc., and Raye Padit of The Fashion Pulpit as moderator.
Watch here 39
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Every year we produce a selection of Get Involved guides for Fashion Revolution Week. These free digital booklets help a range of different people and organisations to take part in the movement, from educators and students to brands, producers and trade unions. Inside the guides, we provide simple instructions for taking action, such as giving citizens the digital tools to hold brands accountable for their social and environmental impacts. This includes social media graphics, physical posters, email templates, and follow-up questions with which to respond to brands.
Read here 40
GUÍA PARA SE ENVOLVER: AGRICULTORES/ AS, PRODUTORES/ AS & FABRICAS
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Translated guides This year, we also translated our guides into multiple languages to make our materials as accessible as possible to communities around the world. This included Bahasa, Bangla, French, Hindi, Portuguese, Russian, Spanish, Tagalog, Turkish and Urdu.
Read here 41
851k
instagram posts made using the hashtag #whomademyclothes
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Who Made My Clothes All year round, we aim to mobilise citizens to: Be curious find out, do something. One of the ways people got involved in this year’s Fashion Revolution Week was by asking #WhoMadeMyClothes? on social media, a hashtag that has been used in over 830,000 posts on Instagram alone. This question is all about empowering people to demand greater transparency and accountability from fashion brands and standing in solidarity with workers throughout the supply chain.
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223k
instagram posts made using the hashtag #imadeyourclothes
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I Made Your Clothes In response to the question of #WhoMadeMyClothes?, thousands of brands and producers shared stories and messages from the people that make our clothes using the hashtag #IMadeYourClothes on social media, as well as through events, shop displays, blog posts, videos, podcasts and more.
Around the world Our #IMadeYourClothes poster was translated into 35 languages, including all 9 official languages of South Africa. Fashion Revolution France shared over 350 #IMadeYourClothes posts from the French linen supply chain - from farmers to weavers. Fashion Revolution Malaysia and Fashion Revolution Singapore launched their own IGTV series spotlighting local makers through short film
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20.7k
Instagram posts made using the hashtag #whatsinmyclothes
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What’s In My Clothes The social and environmental impacts of the fashion industry are deeply interconnected, so we ensured the urgency of the climate crisis and biodiversity loss were put front and centre of our campaigning during Fashion Revolution Week. This year, using the tools provided in our Get Involved Guides, 20.7k people asked #WhatsInMyClothes? to draw attention to fashion’s impact on the planet and ask brands to take action on climate and biodiversity. This is so much more than just a question about the fabrics on a clothing label. #WhatsInMyClothes? gets to the heart of holding fashion brands accountable for their sustainability policies and promises. We have also created a climate crisis action page filled with information, tools and resources for our community to help address fashion’s impact on the planet.
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Loved clothes last Another key hashtag and content theme we shared during Fashion Revolution Week and beyond is #LovedClothesLast. This is our way of spreading the powerful message that the most sustainable garment is the one already in our wardrobes. Our content surrounding this topic, from ‘stitch and bitch’ events to repair and upcycling inspiration, aims to shift the culture of consumption to a culture of care by empowering people to transform their relationships with what they wear. Fashion Revolution co-founder Orsola de Castro launched her debut book ‘Loved Clothes Last: How the Joy of Rewearing and Repairing Your Clothes Can Be a Revolutionary Act’ with Penguin in February 2021. The book has galvanised our global community to fight back against fashion waste by equipping them with the knowledge they need to embrace truly sustainable style. Also available in Italian - ‘I Vestiti Che Ami Vivono A Lungo’ and French ‘Choisir Une Mode Durable’
Across the Global Network Six country teams in Latin America partnered with Supra.org, a community of Latin American upcyclers, to create 7 video tutorials showing recycling and upcycling techniques. The series has been viewed more than 7000 times.
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n o i Fash Revolutionaries Showcasing individuals from around the world who are taking action in their local community to make a difference.
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The super-fundraiser Bo Carter Fashion designer Bo Carter has raised nearly £5000 for charity by running the Marathon de Sables (250km) on her treadmill during the Covid-19 pandemic along with other incredible athletic feats across the world. She selected Fashion Revolution along with Towerhill Stables to donate to, reflecting her dual passions for animal welfare and ethical fashion.
“Ethical fashion is the love of my live. I started my journey making clothes in 2010 and it has been such a challenging and incredible ride. Fashion Revolution was started in 2013 by super awesome Carry Somers and Orsola de Castro after the Rana Plaza disaster, so I really hope you will deep dig and donate to this amazing cause.” 51
The industry changemaker
Sophie Benoit Sophie Benoit, managing director of: What The Hack, an organisation that facilitates sustainability-led hackathon events in Ireland, hosted a digital hackathon during Fashion Revolution Week which mobilised fashion activists from around the world to create engaging online campaigns.
“I wanted show that we can achieve change by bringing people together in the process of generating ideas to find innovative solutions.” 52
t is iv t c a n io t a r e n The next ge
Alexandra Cerezo Alexandra is the Country Coordinator for Fashion Revolution’s Guatemala team. In 2020, her work was recognised by the UN’s Young Activist Summit. The award celebrated Alexandra’s fight to defend sustainability and human rights in order to create a better future for future generations. She has also been profiled by Vogue Mexico as one of the key Latin voices that give name to the fight for an ethical fashion industry, and for her work on the documentary ‘Se Abrió Paca’ which showcased the impacts of the second hand clothing in Guatamala’s economy, culture and environment.
“We are a young voluntary team that takes our work seriously because we come from a country that's known not only for its production and craftsmanship culture but also for its rich environment, yet the need for a change in the system in order to not only care for that environment but to regain the value of its culture and demand justice and equality of every person within the supply chain is urgent. I am the Country Coordinator that I am today because I've got a wonderful team that teaches and motivates me everyday. ” 53
92 country teams
k r o w t e N A Global
s e i r a n o i t u l o v e R n o i h s of Fa Our Global Network works together around the world to create positive and lasting change. Fashion Revolution is a registered non-profit organisation in the United Kingdom, with decentralised country offices and voluntary teams in 92 countries and growing. Every year, more Fashion Revolutionaries join us to become part of the international movement, each making an impact where it counts in their communities and in their local languages.
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A quick overview of
Global Network Fashion Revolution Week in numbers
500k
followers across FR Global Network social media accounts
981
events (both online and offline)
900k
engagements across FR Global Network social media accounts
228
student ambassadors globally
434
partnerships
51
policymakers engaged
Numbers are surrounding FRW only (march/april/may)
During Fashion Revolution Week 2021, our Global Network teams hosted hundreds of virtual and physical Covid-safe events and mobilised their communities through engaging content, campaigns and direct actions. From Japan and India to the USA and Brazil, from Sudan and Egypt to Italy and Ireland, international Fashion Revolutionaries inspired thousands of people to take part in the movement to transform the industry.
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Spotlight on:
Fashion Revolution Netherlands We have 38 country teams in Europe alone, with Fashion Revolution Netherlands playing an important role in in our Global Network. Surrounding Fashion Revolution Week, the team hosted five engaging digital talks in collaboration with cultural organisation Pakhuis de Zwijger. These panel events invited designers, researchers, activists and policymakers to educate the Dutch community about the relationship between fashion and colonialism.
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Ukraine
Italy USA
Argentina
Case Studies:
Funded projects from the Global Network Every year, we allocate funding to help develop selected Fashion Revolution Week projects from our Global Network. This year, we supported Fashion Revolution teams in the USA, Italy, Argentina and Ukraine.
) A S U ( t l o v e R g a t h s a H l a r i v a d e h c n u a l A S U n o i t u l o v e Fashion R g a t h s a H d e l l a c n g i a p m a c g n i k hashtag hijac s g a t h s a h d n a r b n o i h s a f t s a f r e Revolt. It took ov g n i s i a r s s e n e r a w a d n a l a n o i t a c u d with e d n a s r e m o t s u c n o i h s a f t s a f t e g r a posts to t o h w t u o b a s u o i r u c e b o t m e h t e g encoura d n a s n o i t i d n o c t a h w r e d n u , s e h made their clot . t n e m n o r i v n e e h t n o e v a h y e h t t c what impa g in d lu c in s ip h s r e tn r a p y e k y b d ie f li p m a s The campaign wa 0 0 0 1 r e v o in g in lt u s e r , k c a H e th t a h W d n Fair Trade USA a n io h s a f le b a in ta s u s e th d n o y e b g in h c a e r Instagram posts echo chamber.
Artivism (
Italy)
Fashion R evolution I t a l y curated a art exhibit virtual ion called ‘ A rtivism’ w from 36 lo i t h work cal artists a n d creative global atte s and XXX ndees. Created in partnersh ip with Cit Pistoletto, tadellarte the exhibi Fondazion t i o n e aimed to g to express ive people their crea t he chance t i v i t y a nd share t about soc heir thoug ial justice hts and enviro in fashion nmental s , respondi u stainabilit n g t o y the Fashio theme of n Revoluti Rights, Re on Week lationship s & Revolu tion.
Fashion Revolu tion Encyclopedia (Argentina)
Fashion Revolu tion Argentina l a u n ched an encycloped ia in partnershi p w i th Appropropedia to create a lear n i n g tool and platform for au diences in Latin America.
The content ce ntered around #LovedClothes awareness am Last to raise ongst citizens a b out the importa genuinely lovin nce of g our clothes b y providing them necessary tool with the s to build mean i n gful relationshi wardrobes and ps with their with the way th ey dress. The p community ed roject included it-a-thons and digital worksho on clothing rep p s and demos air, care and up cycling.
BUYLESS (Ukraine) Fashion Revolution Ukraine worked with a local ethical print studio in Kyiv to create a prototype of an online store called Buy Less. Rather than encouraging people to buy new clothes, a limited editio, a limited edition of 100 garments were upcycled with signature prints designed specially for this project in collaboration with local designers and illustrators. “Buying” was replaced with donating money directly to WWF Ukraine Foundation.
Global Network Highlights Fashion Revolution Week was a truly international movement, with 90+ teams all around the world producing unique events and activations inspired by our theme of Rights, Relationships and Revolution. Here are just a small selection of more highlights from our local country teams.
Ethiopia hosted a weekend of talks, workshops and film screenings in Addis Ababa Cambodia hosted a co nversation with factory managers from the ga rment industry
India hosted a workshop on refashioning waste through braiding n o n o i t a s r e v n o c a d e t s o h y a u g a Par n o i t a i r p o r p p a l a r u t l u c d n a t f a r c traditional
Scotland hosted a Right to Repair mending tutorial series 60
Malaysia hosted a panel on the art of Batik
France launc hed a
Guerrilla Post er
campaign
e h t n o t n e v e n a d e t Sudan hos g n i l c y c p u f o y t i r a l circu Ireland teamed up with Nuw to host a virtual clothes swap event Nigeria collaborated with Lagos F ashion Week’s Woven Threads programm e e w s ip h s n o ti la re e th n Chile hosted a talk o s ie it n u m m o c s u o n e establish with indig
Portugal hosted a discussion on greenwashing and how to spot it
UAE hosted an ev ent unpacking th e relationship betw een fashion and our oceans Brazil published and launched their first book, Revolução da Moda e s i a r o t o y k o T y a D h t r a E h t i w d e t Japan collabora t c a p m i l a t n e m n o r i v n e ’s n o i h s the alarm on fa
“Fashion Open Studio is a microcosm of brilliance, courage and resilience, bringing together committed individuals, creative souls and relentless changemakers all who use their creativity for the good of many” Grazia UK
Fashion Open Studio is Fashion Revolution’s showcasing and knowledge sharing initiative. Since 2017, the Fashion Open Studio programme has produced presentations, talks, and workshops with emerging designers, established trailblazers and major players, to celebrate the people and processes behind our clothes. During Fashion Revolution Week 2021, Fashion Open Studio hosted a series of digital events, showcasing more than 60 designers across 20 countries, each one pushing the boundaries of what it means to work in fashion.
60+ Events
1.6m social media impressions
17.7k
event attendees
30+
original videos produced
Find out more
15.9k
Instagram followers
70+
designers showcased from 20+ countries
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Testimonials from the Fashion Open Studio mentorship programme:
“I am so grateful for the mentoring sessions we have been given by the Fashion Open Studio team. Great inputs to keep us in the loop of new innovations, technologies, strategies and mindsets. For me, the best part is that it opened a door to a new collaboration that is perfectly suitable for the way I work and I’m looking forward to go further with this idea.” Sofie Andersson, Founder & designer, Anekdot
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“We have learned so much about sustainable materials, the latest digital fashion innovations, disruptive production and distribution methods. Fashion Open Studio provided us with such broad and intrinsic knowledge and so we are very grateful for their caring support” Barbara Baum, BARABARA
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Hyeres For the 2020 Hyeres Fashion Festival, we delivered a masterclass on sustainability in fashion to the ten awards finalists. In 2021, this has developed into a mentorship programme to shift designers’ ideas on areas such as materials, sourcing, upcycling techniques, and circularity, and we will present an official award for responsible fashion design.
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Mercedes Benz Fashion Week Berlin The Berlin Senate was keen to incorporate sustainability into the city’s fashion weeks, so we collaborated with Fashion Revolution Germany to activate a series of digital events to highlight the work of 15 Berlin based designers. We are continuing this partnership for Belin Fashion Week in September 2021 with 15 designers selected from Germany, UK, Switzerland and India for a programme of hybrid digital and physical events including interventions in retail stores, galleries and an exhibition and catwalk show at Kraftwerk.
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“The Fashion Open Studio mentorship gave me a unique chance to share my thoughts and ask the tough questions to the leading industry professionals in the field of technology, sustainability and supply chain.” Jennifer Droguett, Anciela
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“After having such a hard time during this coronavirus situation with my work it was such a positive uplift to see everyone and I hope more than anything there is future support for sustainable fashion brands in the future.“ Alice Potts
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Arnhem Biennale Fashion Open Studio are co-curating the State of Fashion Biennial 2022 alongside Not ____ Enough Collective. We were selected from 118 applications from 31 different countries. We are working together to redress and make reparations for an industry built on centuries of colonialism, exploitation and an imbalance of power. We will be reimagining Arnhem’s high streets, retailers, public spaced and institutions. 70
COP26 Fashion Open Studio in partnership with the British Council will design and curate a series of digital events in response to the themes of the UN Climate Change conference COP26. Nine participating designers from across the world have been selected to open up their studios virtually to showcase their creative responses to fashion’s environmental impact and two of the daily themes of the COP26 conference. 71
Case Study:
Fashion Open Studio: Adpative Fashion With the help of the Mayor of London’s Fashion Showcasing Fund, Fashion Open Studio support emerging adaptive fashion brand [RESET] with the launch of their debut collection during London Fashion Week in February 2021.
“Designing for differently abled people is not a trend, it’s a necessity. Balancing fashion through functional clothing will empower people and advocate for inclusiveness – that’s the aim.” Monika Dugar, founder of [RESET] To support their debut collection, Fashion Open Studio offered some creative direction for the brand’s lookbook. Fashion Revolution’s designer, Maria Maleh photographed some of the collection’s key pieces, modelled by poet and songwriter Miss Jacqui; producer and presenter, Moeed Majeed; dancer, Kat Hawkins; comedian and founder of tech platform More Human, Emma Lawton, and Candoco dancer Joel Brown. The collection launch took place during Fashion Open Studio’s London Fashion Week programme with an online event alongside design muse Emma Lawton, sustainable fashion writer Aja Barber, and inclusion campaigner Samanta Bullock.
Find out more 72
“Fashion Open Studio’s support have been the biggest game changer for [R E S E T]. We’ve received a lot of traction after London Fashion Week, and also been recognised on various outstanding platforms.” Monika Dugar, founder of Reset
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r e k r Wo Stories
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Fashion Revolution x Project Workforce: If you could ask anything of the people who make your clothes, what would it be? Last year, our community submitted a range of questions for workers in the fashion supply chain and Taslima, Asif, Ranul, Shajahan, Asma, Panna, Mohamad and Shahen, all of whom work in garment factories in Bagladesh, answered them.
This original series was produced in Bangladesh in collaboration with Project Workforce, an initiative working to create a meaningful connection between brands and makers, and shining a light on the experiences of the people behind our clothes.
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Watch videos
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World Fair Trade Organisation: I Made Your Clothes During Fashion Revolution Week 2021, we wanted to dive deeper into the #IMadeYourClothes hashtag and share some video interviews we produced in partnership with WFTO. These interviews showcase people working in the global fashion supply chain for Fair Trade enterprises, a business model that prioritises the wellbeing of the local community. Celebrating the real joy in their work, these small social enterprises spotlight the women who make their clothes in India, Peru and Nepal. The #IMadeYourClothes Fair Trade takeover series, including Dipali Pramanik from @sashaft.social, Maria del Pilar Marcapiña from @peruland.allnatural and Kopila Magar, Urmila Maharjan, Sarita Magar and Nirmala Bholon from @purnaanepal.
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Who Made My Fabric? Fashion supply chains are notoriously opaque, and this can enable exploitative working conditions to thrive while obscuring who has the responsibility and power to redress them. While a growing number of brands and retailers have published a list of the factories where their garments are cut and sewn, the vast majority of brands are not yet disclosing the facilities where fabrics and yarns are made. This leaves a huge blind spot where human rights and environmental risks may be significant and going unaddressed. This is why in 2021 we called upon citizens everywhere to demand greater transparency from brands by asking #WhoMadeMyFabric? We also asked brands and producers to tell us #IMadeYourFabric, so we can connect more closely with the people who produce the fabrics and raw materials we wear. We worked closely with civil society organisations in Tamil Nadu to hear stories directly from hundreds of garment and textile workers and mobilise citizens to use social media, product review and email tools to directly address powerful brand decision makers.
“We know from our communication with brands and retailers that executives take notice when the public speaks up, so we continue to enable our community to use these tools to hold them accountable. Brands typically don’t take much notice of petitions, but it only takes between 50 to 100 emails to a brand on a single topic for it to be discussed at board level.” Sarah Ditty, Global Policy Director, Fashion Revolution 79
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Campaign highlights:
Who made my fabric?
3.6k 5k 100
Emails sent by citizens to brands producing in Tamil Nadu demanding greater transparency beyond the first tier
Instagram posts asking #WhoMadeMyFabric? and 1,000+ brands and producers responding with #IMadeYourFabric
influencer and press features globally
I made your fabric This campaign cemented an important new narrative in the fashion sustainability space, highlighting the labour-intensive nature of the fashion industry and sharing unheard voices from the people that make our clothes.
Find out more 81
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Out of Sight: A call for transparency from field to fabric In support of the Tamil Nadu Declaration and Framework of Action, we conducted research into the supply chain transparency efforts of major fashion brands and retailers. The resulting report, ‘Out of Sight: A call for transparency from field to fabric’ explores why greater transparency in the supply chain is needed to help put an end to exploitative working conditions in the places where fabrics and yarns are made. The Tamil Nadu Alliance calls upon major fashion brands and retailers to help eradicate severe labour exploitation in textile spinning mills in southern India through reform across five areas. Our research supports their goal to expand supply chain transparency beyond tier 1 cut-and-sew operations by publicly disclosing the details of all textile, raw material manufacturing processes, and finished product facilities in the global supply chain. 84
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are disclosing first tier manufacturers
are disclosing at least a partial list of processing facilities
are disclosing a partial list of textile production sites (spinning, knitting,
(where finished goods are made and shipped
(printing, dyeing, laundering, embroidery)
weaving and fabric production)
from)
@fash_rev | Tamil Nadu Alliance
TAKE ACTION AND READ THE REPORT NOW.
“Clothing brands and retailers are one of the critical stakeholders in the supply chain, from cotton to garments. They wield influence in the operations of mills with their knowledge on design and quality and direct link to consumer needs and demands. They should leverage their influence to address workplace issues and listen to the needs of voiceless workers within mills to transform their horrendous status.” Former textile worker and bonded labour survivor
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The ongoing impact of COVID-19 on the people who make our clothes Since the start of the Covid-19 pandemic, business-as-usual has collapsed throughout the fashion industry. Many of the worst social and environmental impacts have fallen on the most vulnerable members of the supply chain: the workers. Brands have cancelled £billions of orders from factories and suppliers, withholding payments of finished and in-production goods, and even demanding discounts, while workers lack protection from the virus in dangerous workplace conditions. 86
The consequences of Covid-19 have exposed a broken fashion system that depends on widespread exploitation and an imbalance of power. Last year, we created a resource page to educate our community about the impact of the global pandemic on workers, and enable them to demand action from brands and retailers. Nearly 13,000 people sent emails to major brands asking about what they are doing to protect their supply chain workers during Covid-19, creating a surge in pressure for decision-makers to act on unjust purchasing practices. Others helped by donating to fund direct action in producing countries with our partnering NGOs, or by sharing our free campaign resources on social media. Our 2021 Fashion Transparency Index found that just 3% of major brands are publicly disclosing the number of workers that have been laid off as a result of Covid-19, making it difficult to assess the full impact of the pandemic across fashion supply chains. Meanwhile, the pandemic continues to affect garment and textile workers as factories re-open and orders from major retailers ramp up once more, with ongoing reports of wage theft and unfair dismissal.
We stand in solidarity with workers throughout the fashion supply chain as Covid-19 affects their lives and livelihoods, and we call on brands, policymakers and citizens to continue to help protect the people who make our clothes through our ongoing research and resources, such as the Fashion Transparency Index. 87
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Garment Worker Diaries partnership Microfinance Opportunities an initiative that collects credible data on workers in the global fashion supply chain across Bangladesh, India and Cambodia. Since 2017, Fashion Revolution has been a key partner in sharing this valuable research with our audience, creating collaborative blog posts, highlighting worker stories through the Garment Worker Diaries podcast and engaging stakeholders to advocate for changes in the global supply chain that will improve the lives of garment workers. Fashion Revolution and Microfinance Opportunities are through to the second round of the Google Global Impact Challenge for Women and Girls with a project to put evidence-based decision-making at the core of the fashion revolution by providing near-real-time data on the challenges facing women in global apparel supply chains, ensuring women’s rights are upheld and providing them with the opportunity to address discrimination, move out of poverty and take control of their future. The project aims to ensure that all relevant stakeholders have relevant, credible real-time data on the people making their clothes to help inform their decision-making as we build back better on the other side of Covid.
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Bangladesh Accord The Bangladesh Accord on Fire and Building Safety was created in response to the Rana Plaza factory collapse, and has succeeded in making garment factories in Bangladesh safer than ever. In 2021, the Accord faced the threat of expiry, and without the threat of brands being held accountable in court, workers’ lives were put at risk once more. In response, we lobbied major fashion brands to sign a new international legally binding agreement on health and safety to ensure that the commitments under the Accord will continue to be enforceable by unions upon individual brands. This also allows for new country addendums that will enable the Accord model to be expanded to other garment exporting countries where factories remain unsafe, such as Pakistan, Egypt and India. We created educational content about the Accord on our blog and social media to win public support and lobbied brands to sign the renewed agreement in collaboration with Clean Clothes Campaign and Pay Up Fashion Coalition. In addition, we utilised our internal communications for the 2021 Fashion Transparency Index research to pressure 49 major fashion brands to publicly commit to the Accord in order to avoid losing points in next year’s edition of the Index. As a result of our campaigning, a landmark new agreement was reached between brands and unions. The new International Accord for Health and Safety in the Textile and Garment Industry will ensure legal enforceability of brands’ commitments, independent oversight of brand compliance, the obligation to pay prices to suppliers sufficient to support safe workplaces, and the obligation to cease doing business with any factory that refuses to operate safely. As of early September 2021, 102 brands (and counting) have signed the new International Accord for Health and Safety in the Textile and Garment Industry, including the vast majority of the 13 major brands we entered into back-and-forth discussions with during our campaigning.
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l a r e Gen Policy y c a c o Adv
Global Policy Advocacy Strategy: Policy Dialogue programme pilots completed with Kenya and Rwanda reports and case studies launched to the public and local policymakers Launched open source Policy Dialogue Toolkit freely available to the public 3 x Global Network Policy Working Group meetings and training workshops where our country teams have shared strategies and tactics for influencing national policy debates 92
Strengthened Policy Advocacy Partnerships: Co-led effort with Fair Trade Advocacy Office to build broad coalition of 65+ CSOs across Europe to draft and launch the European Civil Society (shadow) Strategy for Fair & Sustainable Textiles to the European Commission Sent joint letter to the European Commission in support of comprehensive EU Textiles Strategy with Policy Hub and received positive response from two Commissioners Sent joint letter to EU Commissioners Reynders and Breton calling for complementary action needed to address unfair purchasing practices and achieve goals of the upcoming Sustainable Corporate Governance directive. Co-signed with Clean Clothes Campaign, European Coalition for Corporate Justice, Anti-slavery International, FTAO and Traidcraft Exchange Signed several joint letters sent to the UK Government together with Fashion Roundtable such as this one. Joint submission made to the UK EAC’s Fixing Fashion: Follow-up inquiry with CORE Coalition, BHHRC, Oxfam GB, ASI, Traidcraft Exchange, Labour Behind the Label, War on Want, Freedom United, The Circle and Human Rights Watch Joined the Crack the Crises coalition to work together to influence COP26 and the 2021 G7 Summit. Policy asks here. Sent joint letter to European Commissioner for Internal Markets co-signed with Changing Markets calling for the EU to develop legislative measures to break the vicious cycle of cheap, synthetic material reliance
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Publication of Policy Papers: Published our second white paper ‘Why we still need a fashion revolution’ Published ‘Situating Alternatives Textiles in Kenya’ policy recommendation paper as part of the Policy Dialogue programme which was presented to the Office of the President
Policymaker Outreach and Influencing: EU: Sent white paper to 700+ MEPs and received dozens of positive responses; presented our policy priorities in a roundtable with EU DG Justice, DG Environment. EEA & UNECE. Had one-to-one meetings with DG Environment and Delara Burkhardt MEP to explain what an effective policy framework on transparency should entail and how to leverage its potential UK: Provided background research for the UK Environmental Audit Committee’s follow-up enquiry on fashion sustainability in November; submitted written recommendations on strengthening the Modern Slavery Act in which the government received 530 submissions from the Fashion Revolution community (out of 724) and agreed to implementing nearly all of our recommendations, see their response here published 22 Sept UN: Participation in several working groups meetings to influence the trajectory of the UNFCCC Fashion Industry Charter on Climate Action and the UNECE Traceability & Transparency standards, platform and policy recommendations
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Connecting citizens and policymakers Started drafting new guide for citizens “How to lobby your policymaker” first draft completed, hoping to publish later in 2021
Policy change achievements this year: The shadow strategy received endorsements from 50+ MEPs from across the different political parties and positive responses from Commissioner Sinkevičius and we have been asked to input on strategic work being undertaken by INTA, ENVI, UNEP and IOM between July and December. Here is the letter and further MEPs have since endorsed throughout 2020 and their names are added here. On 11 December 2020, our joint letter with the Policy Hub was sent out to various Commissioners and MEPs and received a positive response from President van der Leyen on 21 December 2020. On 5 Jan 2021, the EC published its Roadmap towards a new EU strategy for sustainable textiles, which reflects in some paragraphs the spirit and some of the core ideas of our shadow strategy. It states that the initiative will “explore how to reinforce the protection of human rights, environmental duty of care and due diligence across value chains, including improving traceability and transparency.” Our civil society strategy has been considered and listed as a valuable input for this initiative. 95
Big win! Strengthened UK Modern Slavery Act One of the biggest ‘wins’ in this reporting period has been the UK Government announcing its plan to strengthen the Modern Slavery Act on 22 Sept 2020, in which the Government agreed to nearly all of the recommendations we had been lobbying for since 2019. The Government published a response to consultation on the transparency in supply chains part of the Act and said: “We received a total of 724 responses to the consultation. This included 530 responses from consumers following a campaign led by Fashion Revolution and Traidcraft Exchange.”
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e h t h c i h w s n o i t a d n e m m o c e r Our : e d u l c n i o t d e e r g a t n e m n r e Gov Mandate the areas that MSA statements must cover Publish new guidance on best practice approaches to reporting Set up central government-run registry and require companies to publish their statements there Establish one annual reporting deadline in which annual statements must be submitted Requires statements to indicate the date of Board approval and Director sign off Requires statements to name all the entities covered (particularly important for parent companies and subsidiaries) Introduce civil penalties for non-compliance and assign an enforcement body Extend the scope of the legislation to cover public sector bodies / public procurement
h s li b u p d n a te a ll o c t n e m rn ve Our demand that the Go e th f o e p o c s e th in h it w d re a list of all companies cove . d te p e c c a t o n n o ti a d n e m m o c re legislation was the only 97
Big win! EU announced mandatory legislation on due diligence in March 2021: Fashion Revolution has been proactively lobbying EU policymakers for mandatory human rights and environmental legislation since 2015 through regular presentations at EU policy events, one-toone meetings with key policymakers, publishing policy briefs and sending joint policy demand letters with like-minded allies. On 10 March 2021, the European Parliament approved an outline proposal for the EU Directive on Mandatory Human Rights, Environmental and Good Governance Due Diligence. We expect the Commission to propose the Directive in October 2021 and Parliament to approve this new legislation in 2022. This means the new law will likely come into effect in 2023. We expect a number of our demands to be included in this forthcoming Directive, which amounts to an historic win for our campaigning efforts!
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We have had meetings or direct engagement with the following policymakers and representatives of governmental bodies in this re porting period: President van der Leyen letter rece ived on 21 Dec 2020 responding to joint Policy Hub letter Commissioner Sinkevičius respon
ded to shadow strategy
Cecile Billaux, Head of Unit DG Dev
co sent joint Policy Hub letter
Madelaine Tuninga, Head of the Uni t in DG Trade sent joint Policy Hub letter Florika Fink-Hooijer, Director Gener al of DG Environment sent joint Policy Hub letter Anna Athanasopoulou, Head of Tour ism, Textiles and Creative Industries at European Commissi on sent joint Policy Hub letter Commissioner Frans Timmerman
s, sent joint Policy Hub letter
Jeroen Van Laer, Policy Officer Gre en Economy/Sustainable Consumption (E1) Directorate-Gen eral Justice and Consumers Paola Migliorini- Deputy Head of U nit, Circular Economy and Green Growth, Sustainable Production, Pr oducts and Consumption(ENV.B.1) Directorate-General for Environm ent, European Commission Maria Teresa Pisani, Acting Head, Su stainable Trade and Outreach Unit, United Nations Economic Commis sion for Europe, UNECE Ugo Bassi- Acting Director of DG FI SMA, Directorate B “Horizontal policies” European Commission Lindita Xhaferi-Salihu, Sectors En
gagement Lead, UN Climate Chan
ge
Nicholas Davies, Committee Spec ialist, Environmental Audit Committee, UK House of Common s
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n o i h Fas Transparency x e d n I
Read now
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In 2021, we published the sixth annual edition of the Fashion Transparency Index. This year, 250 of the world’s largest fashion brands and retailers were reviewed and ranked according to what information they disclose about their social and environmental policies, practices and impacts, in their operations and supply chain. The Index is a tool to push and incentivise the world’s largest fashion brands to be more transparent about their social and environmental efforts. Fashion Revolution believes that transparency is foundational to achieving systemic change in the global fashion industry, which is why we have been campaigning for it since 2014, and why we created this Index. Transparency is not to be confused with sustainability. However, without transparency, achieving a sustainable, accountable, and fair fashion industry will be impossible. Transparency underpins transformative change but unfortunately much of the fashion value chain remains opaque, while human and environmental exploitation thrives with impunity. A lack of transparency perpetuates an exclusive system, where people are expected to trust brands who have continued to put profit and growth above all else. When brands publicly disclose information, it allows anyone to scrutinise their policies, hold them accountable for their claims and advocate for positive change. 101
Progress on transparency in the global fashion industry is still too slow among 250 of the world’s largest fashion brands and retailers, with brands achieving an overall average score of just 23% in the Fashion Transparency Index 2021. This year’s Fashion Transparency Index reveals a lack of transparency in several crucial areas. A highlight of key findings includes:
Living wages The majority of major fashion brands (99%) do not disclose the number of workers in their supply chain that are being paid a living wage. 96% do not publish a roadmap on how they plan to achieve a living wage for all workers in their supply chain.
Covid-19 response Just 3%, are publicly disclosing the number of workers in their supply chains laid-off due to COVID-19, leaving us with an ‘incomplete picture’ of the negative socio-economic impact workers have faced throughout the pandemic. Less than a fifth (18%) of major brands disclose the percentage of their complete or partial order cancellations, making it difficult to assess the full impact of the pandemic across fashion supply chains.
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Purchasing practices: Fewer than 10% of brands publish a policy to pay suppliers within 60 days, meaning that clothes are often worn by consumers before brands have paid the factories that made them.
Addressing the climate crisis Only 14% of major brands disclose the overall quantity of products made annually, making it difficult to understand the scale of overproduction globally. Most carbon emissions occur at processing and raw material levels and while 62% of big brands publish their carbon footprint in their own facilities, only 26% disclose this information at processing and manufacturing level and only 17% do so at raw material level. More than one third of big brands (36%) have published their progress towards reducing the use of virgin plastics for packaging, but only 18% do so for textiles deriving from virgin fossil fuels, which consumers are less likely to recognise as plastic.
Supply chain traceability Over a quarter (27%) of major brands now disclose some of their processing facilities (e.g., spinning mills, dye-houses and laundries) – up from 24% last year. 11% of major brands publish some of the raw material suppliers (e.g. cotton, wool, viscose) – up from 7% last year.
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Percentage of brands publishing suppliers lists 2021
2020
2019
(250 brands)
(250 brands)
(200 brands)
2018
2017
(150 brands)
(100 brands)
First-tier manufacturers
Processing facilities
27%
47% 40%
32%
11%
24%
35% 37%
Raw material suppliers
7%
19% 18% 14%
5% 1% 0%
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Impact
Fashion Transparecy Index The Index has driven positive change by influencing big brands and retailers to disclose more information about their policies, practices and impacts, in their own operations and in their supply chains. When Fashion Revolution published the first Index in 2016, only 5 out of 40 major brands disclosed their first-tier suppliers and now six years later 117 out of 250 major brands disclose their suppliers. For brands that have been reviewed year-on-year since 2017, we have seen their average scores on transparency increase by 31%. Because more big brands have published their supplier lists, several instances of human rights abuses in brands’ supply chains have been flagged and resolved. We have also forged partnerships with several other organisations, including Wikirate.org and FashionChecker. org, a Clean Clothes Campaign initiative, to enable the Index methodology and research to be used by workers’ rights advocates to call upon major brands to address.
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“Through this initiative, we were able to identify areas of action to improve the transparency of our operations….” “We truly think that we don’t need to wait for perfection to transparently communicate what we do. We know we still have a long journey ahead but transparency is a powerful tool to improve day by day.” OVS
“It gives a real perspective on our to do’s as an industry.” Adidas
“Following your questionnaire as guidance on transparency for our upcoming sustainability report helps us to be more transparent and sensitises us on our own blind spots. Thanks for keep nudging the industry in the right direction!” Mammut
“Thank you very much for sharing all this information with us and especially for sharing the final version of the questionnaire. The comments from the reviewing team are very valuable and useful for us and our continuous improvement, so we very much appreciate it.” Bershka
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3.5m
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Press features
Press reach
social media impressions
social media engagement
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Anyone anywhere should be able to find out how, where, by whom and at what social and environmental costs their clothes are made. This requires greater transparency across fashion’s global value chain. This year, we encouraged Fashion Revolutionaires not to use the Index to inform their shopping choices, but rather use the findings to inform their activism. We urged readers to speak up and challenge the big profitable brands and retailers on their claims, urging them to be more accountable and prove that they’re making changes in reality and not just on paper. Our key call-to-actions were for citizens to use their voice, calling on... •
Major brands and retailers to be more transparent on all the issues included in the Fashion Transparency Index – get in touch with brands and ask them #WhoMadeMyClothes? #WhatsInMyClothes? And #WhoMadeMyFabric?
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Policymakers to create legislation that holds big brands accountable for human rights and environmental impacts the length of the value chain
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Shareholders and investors to use their power to influence big brands to be more transparent and do better for the planet and the people who make our clothes
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Civil society, such as trade unions and NGOs, to ensure that brands’ policies and practices translate into positive outcomes in the places where clothes are made.
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y c n e r a p s n a r T ion
Fash
l i z a r B Index
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Produced by Fashion Revolution Brazil, the annual Fashion Transparency Index Brazil provides a review of 40 of the biggest Brazilian fashion brands and retailers ranked according to how much they disclose about their social and environmental policies, practices and impacts. The third edition, published in 2021, analyses 221 indicators, from working conditions and purchasing practices to animal welfare and textile waste, in addition to key spotlight issues such as the Covid-19 pandemic, living wages and the climate crisis.
The report is also available in Portuguese
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y c n e r a p s n a r T ion
Fash o c i x e M Index
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Produced by Fashion Revolution Mexico, the annual Fashion Transparency Index Mexico provides a review of 20 of the biggest Mexican fashion brands and retailers ranked according to how much they disclose about their policies, practices and impacts. The first edition, published in 2020, analysed 219 social and environmental indicators and found an average score of just 7%. This shows that Mexican brands have a long road to achieving transparency, particularly on topics such as supply chain traceability, working conditions, overconsumption and waste, material composition and climate change.
The report is also available in Spanish
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r e m u Cons Survey Report
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In 2020, Fashion Revolution commissioned a survey of 5,000 people aged 16-75 in the five largest European markets, including Germany, France, Italy, Spain and the United Kingdom, to find out how supply chain transparency and sustainability impacts EU consumers’ purchasing decisions when shopping for clothing, accessories and shoes. In order to learn about their current views on some of fashion’s most pressing social and environmental issues, the research aimed to discover what information consumers would like fashion brands to share and to better understand what role they believe policy should play in ensuring clothing is sustainably produced. We continue to use this research as a launchpad to inspire consumers, companies and governments to each play their role in driving long-term industry-wide change towards a fairer, safer, cleaner and more transparent future of the fashion industry. This survey was part of ‘Trade Fair, Live Fair,’ a 3-year project funded by the European Commission that brings together 35 partners from the Fair Trade community across the EU to raise public awareness and contribute to achieving Goal 12.8 of the UN’s Sustainable Development framework: “to ensure that, by 2030, people everywhere have the relevant information and awareness for sustainable development and lifestyles in harmony with nature”.
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Consumers are calling on fashion brands and governments to ensure transparency and respect for human rights and the environment along supply chains. •
75% of people agreed that fashion brands should do more to improve the lives of the women making their clothes, up from 72% in 2018.
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69% of people would like to know how their clothes were manufactured, in comparison to 59% in 2018
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Consumers agreed that governments have a role to play in ensuring clothing is produced sustainably (70%)
The majority of people wear their clothes for at least a few years and pass on unwanted clothes to others to use, but fewer say they avoid buying new clothes and repair their damaged clothes. •
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62% of people say they wear their clothes for at least a few years. When you compare countries, interestingly, this is the case for 71% of Brits compared to just 39% of Italians. Meanwhile, 8% of people aged 1624 say they only wear clothes that are ‘in fashion’ compared to 4% of respondents across all countries.
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53% of people pass on their unwanted clothes to others for reuse, with 62% of women compared to 44% of men saying they do this.
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Washing at 30°C or lower can dramatically reduce the carbon footprint of our clothes, yet less than half of respondents (40%) do this.
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People want to buy clothes made without harming the environment, animals, workers or consumers. •
37% of respondents said it’s important that the clothing they buy is produced without using harmful chemicals for the consumer.
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Buying clothes made without harming animals was important for 29% of respondents, with 34% of women compared to 24% of men.
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The majority of people think it is important that fashion brands have ethical (72%) and sustainability (80%) certifications.
In the last 12 months, more consumers have tried to purchase clothes at a reduced price in the sale than those that have tried to purchase clothing made in an environmentally or socially responsible way. •
39% of respondents said they tried to buy clothes in a sale.
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19% of people have tried to buy clothing made in an environmentally responsible way.
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Only 14% of people tried to purchase second-hand clothing instead of new.
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31% of people have tried to purchase clothes that are designed for durability
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x n o i t u l o v e R n Fashio British Council
In 2020, our partnership with British Council culminated in a series off toolkits, methodologies, approaches and formats which could be adapted and replicated in activities around the world, piloted by the Fashion Revolution Global Network. The outputs and resources included professional skills, policy dialogues,educational events and creative projects.
Visit webpage This partnership helped achieve the following outcomes: •
Young citizens becoming advocates for sustainable, ethical and socially-engaged fashion, with increased awareness of the impact of their fashion consumption habits and understand alternatives through digital campaigning and cultural programming
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Fashion SMEs designing and producing fashion in a more sustainable and socially-engaged way, by engaging designers and industry professionals to develop knowledge, skills and networks to embed sustainable practice in their work.
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Fashion playing a role in social change by encouraging policy and industry leaders to facilitate discussion around social and environmental sustainability in the fashion industry.
Click here to see how we are joining forces with British Council once more to create conversations about fashion’s environmental impact surrounding the UN Climate Change conference COP26.
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In summer 2021, we were proud to launch our Europe-wide open call for SMEs in the fashion industry as part of the Small but Perfectly Formed accelerator project. This cross-Europe collaborative project that will accelerate fashion SME’s to transition to work within circular and sustainable business models. 28 SME-led partnerships from around Europe will join the 18-month programme, including a business accelerator and R&D phase, culminating in showcasing events and a funding allocation of €10,275 per partnership. The SME partnership projects selected for the accelerator will contribute through collaborative and interactive modules to an open-source SME accelerator toolkit. This toolkit will be utilised by the wider network of small businesses to transform their businesses to more circular, more sustainable enterprises. The project was founded on the basis that without changing the system, we cannot expect changes made – at any level – to be truly sustainable. Small but Perfectly Formed will work alongside business support organisations such as fashion weeks, fashion councils, industry bodies and investment schemes to embed circularity, social and environmental sustainability into their business support and showcasing initiatives. Together, we also aim to map the policy landscape that affects sustainable and circular fashion SMEs,
ensuring a lasting impact is made across the industry from start to finish. Over the course of the project, we will develop a network for SMEs making this transition as well as organisations that support them to exchange knowledge, learnings and best practice to effect wider systemic change in the fashion SME sector.
The consortium partners are: Athens University of Economics and Business, World Fair Trade Organisation, Fair Trade Advocacy Office, Bocconi University, Impact Hub Lisbon, We Love You Communications and Fashion Revolution.
The supporting partners are: Common Objective, University of Portsmouth and Neoynt (Studio MM04)
“SMEs need tangible support but also a supportive environment to create or transition to circular and sustainable models and business practices’. Over an 18-month period the Small but Perfectly Formed accelerator programme will offer SMEs the business support required to focus on people, purpose and planet, rather than profit.” Luisa Rodrigues, Program Manager at Impact Hub Lisbon
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Fashion’s Future and the Sustainable Development Goals: Why does the fashion industry need to change?
"It is excess that is a passing trend and this is the trend that we have to face right now." — Orsola de Castro
What are the Sustainable Development Goals and how do they relate to the clothes we wear?
View course
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Fashion’s Future and the Sustainable Development Goals The free online course, titled Fashion’s Future and the Sustainable Development Goals, investigates the fashion industry’s relationship with the UN Sustainable Development Goals and equips learners to take action on fashion’s impact in their day-to-day life. It features course material from industry experts such as Canopy founder Nicole Rycroft, UNICEF’s head of child rights, Charlotte Williams, and Nazma Akter a former child labourer and founder of the AWAJ foundation in Bangladesh, among others. The course has attracted over 33,200 learners, and is now one of the highest ranked courses covering sustainability and the fashion industry on FutureLearn with a rating of 4.9 out of 5. Running from Summer 2019 continuously until Spring 2022, it has also been awarded Continuing Professional Development (CPD) accreditation, which allows learners to gain certification on completion of the course that can be used to provide evidence of professional development. 123
“I have always been conscious of sustainable fashion and how the fashion industry’s procedures and processes from sourcing materials to the wellbeing of those manufacturing the clothes needs to improve, so I am so delighted to see a movement like this underway. I can’t wait to take part in future campaigns to help make a difference.”
“This has been ama zing and taught me so much about sustainable fashion .It covers everything from the impact of our clothes on th e environment, the treatment and conditions faced by those who make ou r clothes, and what governments and f ashion brands shou ld be doing more o to help. I would rec f ommend it to abso lutely anyone!” a e it r w s a h c u s – d o o g e r a n e iv g s a , r e t “The practical ide s o p a t in r p , d r o w e h t d a e r p s , r e k a m y c li o p a o t d r a e postc d a m o h W r o s e h t lo c y m in ’s t a h ‘W t u o b a d n a r b a il a em my clothes’.”
“It is an excellent course, inspired me a lot. I will definitely change my buying habits. I will try to influence my relatives and friends too.”
“I have really enjoyed this course - I’ve learnt a lot but also left feeling positive about how I can make a change, rather than overwhelmed by the magnitude of the problems within the fashion industry!”
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“‘Collective action is proven to drive change.’ It motivates me to be even more active in educating myself and others because I AM NOT ALONE. As a global citizen, I know where to find support when I need it and I believe many will join Fashion Revolution to make changes and hold themselves accountable.”
“Thank you for this excellent cours e. I will never look at a piece of clothing again withou t thinking about how it was made, its impact on eve ryone in the supply chain.”
I am very glad to encounter this c ourse because I believe I need concrete knowledg e on sustainable fashion if I want to be a more criti cal and reasonable activist of unethical fashion indus try.
g in k a m n a h t r e h t a R “ e m h it w e u r t s This really ring y e h t t a h t e is n g o c e r m e h t lp e h e w , y people feel guilt e iv it s o p e t a e r c o t g in h t e m o s o d o t r have the powe a , e g n a h c e iv it s o p e t a e r c o t e t a r o b change.” - colla m o r f le p o e p e g a r u o c is d ly n o l il w h c combative approa . g in t a ip ic t r a p r o g listenin
“Can´t wait to keep learning about this topic and to encourage others to join the Fashion Revolution Movement. Thank you so much for doing this course because I think that it is the first step to create a real change in this industry.” 125
Who Made My Clothes? We also continue to enrol Fashion Revolutionaries into our second free online course, Who Made My Clothes?, produced in collaboration with the University of Exeter. Over 18,200 people have taken part in this 4-week learning journey to discover the stories of the people who make our clothes.
The topics covered in the self-guided course enable learners to: •
Explain garment supply chains
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Explore the interdependence of places, resources, and the people upon which supply chains rely
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Investigate your own clothing: its brand, where it was made, and from what materials
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Identify and employ search techniques for investigating the policies employed by clothing brands, and the human stories behind them
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Demonstrate empathetic writing about the stories of garment production
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Reflect on how to use your findings to influence brands
“I recommend this course to anyone interested in the fashion industry, communication, understanding how supply chains work in a global economy and how to actively stimulate social change.”
“It made me aware of the injustic es perpetuated in the name of fashion.”
y r e v s a w it s a e rs u o c is th d “I thoroughly enjoye t a h w t u o b a k in th u o y s e k a thought-provoking. It m le p o e p e th d n a y a d y r e v e e s labor goes into items we u behind that labor.”
“This is a great course for anyone wanting to learn more about where their clothes come from, and who made them.”
“I’m definitely keeping on being a detective for my clothes!”
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Black Friday represents a sore spot in an industry that runs on overproduction. When we buy into the seemingly good deals, we send a message to brands that it’s okay for them to thoughtlessly produce at the cost of people and the planet, because we’ll help them get rid of their stockpiles as long as they are steeply discounted. During Black Friday and Cyber Monday 2020 (27th – 30th November), Fashion Revolution addressed the environmental and social damage of hyper-discount culture by asking citizens to take a stand against mindless consumption, and say no to the sales. In tandem with this public-facing campaign, we called on on brands to abstain from offering discounts during the Black Friday weekend, and instead pledge to donate a small percentage of their revenue to Fashion Revolution to help fund all of the work we do in campaigning for a fair, safe and transparent fashion industry. £4,500+ was raised throughout our Black Friday campaign, and thousands of people engaged with our content across social media, press and web. We will be building upon this success this year with another Black Friday campaign focused on fundraising and awareness raising, with the goal to shift the dominant cultural narrative on overproduction, overconsumption and waste during the festive period.
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y l i a D 1 2 20 Planner
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As we countdown to 2030 – the date set by the United Nations to reach their Sustainable Development Goals – the sense of urgency to create lasting environmental and social change grows. It’s often too easy to see the challenges facing the fashion industry as other people’s problems. At Fashion Revolution, we know how much work brands and governments need to do. But we also know how much power we, as individuals, have to use our voices – and our spending power – to demand change. We can all do our bit, from sewing on a button to swapping a piece of clothing with a friend, or simply thinking before we buy. Planning ahead helps, especially when we are slowing down our consumption, making more conscious choices, remembering days of solidarity, and thinking ahead about our own personal acts of Fashion Revolution. ‘How to be a Fashion Revolutionary 365 days a year’ is our physical wall chart designed to empower people to take action in their daily lives. 1000 planners have sold to customers all over the world, providing Fashion Revolutionaires with the inspiration, resources and recommendations to help create a better fashion industry one small step at a time. It was printed in 3 spot colours on recycled paper in the UK by a zero-waste and net-positive printer.
Visit zine library
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n a e p o r Eu s n e z i t Ci Initiative
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European Citizens’ Initiative Good Clothes, Fair Pay: A living wage for the people who make our clothes Millions of people - mostly women and girls work in textile, clothing and footwear production around the world. The vast majority are not paid enough to fulfil their basic needs. Despite first efforts and commitments, the industry has not made progress on the issue of living wages. The Covid-19 pandemic has deepened wage insecurity for the people who make our clothes. Hundreds of thousands of garment workers were left unpaid for their work when several major brands cancelled orders for goods already produced. This led to a severe humanitarian crisis with workers who were left without any social safety net, struggling to pay for food, healthcare and accommodation. This is why we are working on a new campaign to demand tougher legislation that helps achieve living wages for textile and garment workers around the world. The momentum required to support fairer supply chains at EU level has never been greater. The European Commission has committed to introducing mandatory human rights and environmental due diligence legislation compelling companies to take action in their supply chains. In parallel, various EU Member States have developed related national 133
legislation. Better laws and regulations in Europe can make sure that companies all over the world do their part in ensuring that the workers in their supply chains are paid fairly. This is what we are asking the European Commission to do with Good Clothes, Fair Pay, a European Citizens’ Initiative for living wages in the fashion supply chain.
The European Citizens’ Initiative (ECI) An ECI is a unique European Union mechanism aimed at increasing direct democracy by enabling EU citizens to participate directly in the development of EU policies. It enables EU citizens to call directly on the European Commission to propose a directive or regulation, provided they are able to present 1 million signatures from citizens from at least one quarter of Member States. Our proposal calls on the European Commission to introduce legislation requiring that companies conduct specific due diligence measures in their supply chain to ensure workers are paid living wages. The scope is on companies who want to sell to the EU, based in the EU and elsewhere. It calls for measures including that companies’ pricing, costing and overall purchasing practices support living wages.
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The campaign and partners Fashion Revolution is coordinating the campaign to gather one million signatures from EU citizens. We started forging a broad coalition of partners in Summer 2021, and are currently preparing the strategy, branding and campaign assets in preparation for the European Commission to approve the ECI and the campaign to launch across Denmark, France, Germany, Italy, Slovakia, Spain and the Netherlands in Spring 2022. The ECI project was initiated by ASN Bank, one of the largest sustainability-driven banks in the Netherlands. It has also received funding from the Laudes Foundation, governed by representatives of the Brenninkmeijer family enterprise. The ECI project is supported by Lara Wolters, Dutch MEP, as well as senior staff of Fair Wear Foundation, Solidaridad Network, Business and Human Rights Resource Centre, Matrix Chambers, the ILO and Human Rights Watch. Further support and expertise is provided by Dutch trade union CNV International and legal experts on EU civil law and ECI legislation. This will be the single biggest EU campaign on living wages in the garment sector to date. If successful, the legislation will be a groundbreaking step in building a fairer fashion system where brands are held accountable for the people who make their clothes. We believe that proactive policy like this is crucial for safeguarding millions of workers in the fashion supply chain, and that the EU can lead the way for positive change.
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MANIFESTO FOR A
FASHION REVOLUTION We love fashion. But we don’t want our clothes to exploit people or destroy our planet. This is our Manifesto, that nearly 13,500 people have signed over the past two years to join our call for radical, revolutionary change. The more people who add their name, the stronger our shared vision becomes for a better fashion industry.
: o t s e f i n a m e h t d e n g i s e l p o Reasons pe “Because I share your vision of the future of fashion.”
“Because I believe in this movement and want to make the world a better place”
“Because I want the fashion indust ry to become a force for good instead of causing harm. “ “Because I want to participate in changing the fashion industry.”
f o y a w r e tt e b a to it m m o c I se u “Beca .” n io sh fa g in rt o p p su d n a g in m su con “Because the system is broken an dI want to be part of the solution.” “Because I want justice for fashion workers and our planet.”
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#1
Fashion provides dignified work, from conception to creation to catwalk. It does not enslave, endanger, exploit, overwork, harass, abuse or discriminate against anyone. Fashion liberates worker and wearer and empowers everyone to stand up for their rights.
#2
Fashion provides fair and equal pay. It enriches the livelihood of everyone working across the industry, from farm to shop floor. Fashion lifts people out of poverty, creates thriving societies and fulfils aspiration.
#3
Fashion gives people a voice, making it possible to speak up without fear, join together in unity without repression and negotiate for better conditions at work and across communities.
#4
Fashion respects culture and heritage. It fosters, celebrates and rewards skills and craftsmanship. It recognises creativity as its strongest asset. Fashion never appropriates without giving due credit or steals without permission. Fashion honours the artisan.
#5
Fashion stands for solidarity, inclusiveness and democracy, regardless of race, class, gender, age, shape or ability. It champions diversity as crucial for success.
#6
Fashion conserves and restores the environment. It does not deplete precious resources, degrade our soil, pollute our air and water or harm our health. Fashion protects the welfare of all living things and safeguards our diverse ecosystems.
#7
Fashion never unnecessarily destroys or discards but mindfully redesigns and recuperates in a circular way. Fashion is repaired, reused, recycled and upcycled. Our wardrobes and landfills do not overflow with clothes that are coveted but not cherished, bought but not kept.
#8
Fashion is transparent and accountable. Fashion embraces clarity and does not hide behind complexity nor rely upon trade secrets to derive value. Anyone, anywhere can find out how, where, by whom and under what conditions their clothing is made.
#9
Fashion measures success by more than just sales and profits. Fashion values human wellbeing and environmental sustainability above profit and growth.
#10
Fashion lives to express, delight, reflect, protest, comfort, commiserate and share. Fashion never subjugates, denigrates, degrades, marginalises or compromises. Fashion celebrates life.
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s n o i t c e l Ref Orsola de Castro, Global Creative Director, Fashion Revolution
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“Our impact this year was twofold. Asking accountability from brands and engaging consumers, already stressed by Covid-19, with a myriad of ways in which to become active with their clothes and their purchasing habits. As well as joining and amplifying other campaigns to demand that brands pay for their orders and look after the well-being of their workers during the pandemic. We created a comprehensive and engaging programme during Fashion Revolution Week, highlighting topics such as cultural appropriation and deforestation, while simultaneously running a highly successful Fashion Open Studio program of online events showcasing the work of inspirational designers and communities from all over the world.
Our impact continues to span and attract different audiences, thanks to the remarkable work of our Country Coordinators. Our global network is honed, connected and synchronised, and continues to be our most significant strength. Our team has worked relentlessly, and we yet again delivered a brilliant Fashion Revolution Week and fantastic Fashion Transparency Index. I am looking forward to the next phase, working together, for our ninth year and beyond.” 139
! U O Y K N A H T
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