The older I get, the more connections I see in the world around me. We live in a vast interconnected universe where seemingly disparate topics are in fact intimately linked on some level. Social justice, the multi-billion dollar fashion industry, environmental conservation and animal welfare – all of these things come into play every time we decide to purchase an item of clothing.

It’s kind of a scary isn’t it? We can unwittingly impact on the world around us on a daily basis, without ever fully comprehending the consequences of our actions.

When faced with frightening complexity, we have a tendency to bury our heads in the sand – an ancient survival mechanism perhaps? Creating a better, fairer world is hard.

I can’t tell you that if you do x y and z everything will be fine and all fashion supply chains will become transparent and equitable. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not saying we can’t create positive change, which will lead to a socially and environmentally bright future. I know that we can do this! I just know that it won’t be easy…but it will be worth it!

Fashion Revolution is a great way to begin. It isn’t about a quick fix, it’s about starting the journey and sparking the hard yet vital conversations.

On April 24 2013, 1133 garment workers were killed when the Rana Plaza complex collapsed in Dhaka, Bangladesh. Over 2500 were injured. Today, people all around the world are still suffering as a direct result of our fashion supply chain. This year you have the opportunity to join people in over 70 countries participating in Fashion Revolution Week as a way of saying enough is enough!

On 18-24 April 2016, Fashion Revolution Week will bring people from all over the world together to use the power of fashion to change the story for the people who make the world’s clothes and accessories. Simply take a photo of your fashion label, upload it to social media and ask the brand to tell you #whomademyclothes

The important thing is to be persistent! Keep asking the brand until you receive a satisfactory answer. We want as many people as possible to question who made their clothes, from the thread linking the garment to the machinists who sewed it, all the way down to the farmer who grew the cotton.

Other revolutionary actions you can take, include:

• Attending or organising an event in your local area
• Learning more about why we need a Fashion Revolution by reading this guide on How to be a Fashion Revolutionary
• Trying a #haulternative; a way of refreshing your wardrobe without buying new clothes
• Donating to help Fashion Revolution fight for transparency in the fashion industry
• Using Fashion Revolution’s free social media assets to start a conversation with your followers
• Discovering other organisations working on ethics and sustainability in fashion

This will be the third year that I’ve participated in Fashion Revolution – let me know what you’ll be doing during Fashion Revolution Week, in the comments below 🙂

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