Consumption habits are key.
Whilst many brands and other stakeholders (that includes you) are making significant strides to tackle many of the issues we have discussed throughout the course. Overconsumption hasn’t yet had the spotlight it requires. The current fashion system is designed to constantly increase the level of production and consumption of clothing in order to continuously drive more and more profit. The root cause of many negative social and environmental impacts in the fashion industry is the way that prevailing business models are designed. This must change.
If annual clothing sales continue to grow at the current rate, they will reach 160 million tonnes by 2050 – more than three times the volume we are producing today. We need to put consumption habits in the spotlight because even if we consume only ‘sustainably made’ products, at this trajectory, we will continue to breach our planetary boundaries. Whilst we want a thriving fashion industry that is accessible to everyone, we also want one that protects and restores our living planet and supports good working conditions and sustainable livelihoods for everyone across the whole value chain.
Collective action is proven to drive change.
History shows us that collective action has driven change time and time again. From the French Revolution to the Salt March in India to the American civil rights movement, there are countless examples of people and communities coming together to demand change, and achieving it. More recently, we have seen global climate protests, mainly led by young people, that have brought renewed global attention and commitment to addressing the accelerating climate breakdown. Some say this has been ignited by one individual or movement but in fact, momentum has been building for years thanks to the combined actions of many individuals and groups all over the world who have ignited conversations, proposed new ideas and policies and taken to the streets to call attention to these issues and demand radical change.
Let’s be solution-focused and action-oriented.
Fashion Revolution’s mantra is “Be curious. Find out. Do something.” The first step is being aware of the negative impacts of our clothes and understanding why and how this is occurring. Of course, you need to know about an issue if you seek to change it. However, we can’t just stop there and dwell on the problems. We must focus on solving these issues and taking concrete actions to achieve positive change. Collectively and individually, we have to be forward-thinking, pragmatic and ready to jump in to make that change a reality. No matter how small the initial steps we take, the most important thing is to get started - now!
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