Advertisement

Campaign Marks Anniversary Of Clothing Factory Deaths

Campaign Marks Anniversary Of Clothing Factory Deaths
Campaign Marks Anniversary Of Clothing Factory Deaths

Alexandra and Genevieve Smart of Ginger and Smart. Photo: Supplied

Don’t be surprised if you see people out and about today with their clothes on inside out, or if your social media feeds are flooded with pictures of clothing labels. People haven’t forgotten how to get dressed. Instead, they’re making a powerful statement about ethical practices in the fashion industry.

The campaign is called #WhoMadeMyClothes and it’s run by Fashion Revolution, a global organisation that wants to end unethical business practices in the fashion industry’s supply chain. From overcrowded, underfunded factories to illegal employment agreements, Fashion Revolution wants consumers to think hard about where their clothes have come from, and what their jeans and jackets mean for the people who made them, embroidered them, pieced them together, transported the fabrics and even grew the crops.

More than 71 countries and countless ambassadors are taking part this year, which commemorates two years since the tragic collapse of the Rana Plaza factory complex in Bangladesh, which saw 1133 people killed and a further 2500 injured.

Campaign Marks Anniversary Of Clothing Factory Deaths
Campaign Marks Anniversary Of Clothing Factory Deaths

Kit Willow of KitX. Photo: Supplied

Although there have been inroads into more ethical practices in the fashion industry since then, research indicates that there is still much more to be done. Two-thirds of fashion companies are not focused on sustainability in their business practices, according to research by Deloitte. In Australia, some 91 per cent of companies did not know the source of their cotton. Three-quarters of fashion brands did not know the source of all their fabrics.

In Australia, brands incuding Kit Willow’s KitX, Ginger and Smart and CUE have joined the Fashion Revolution campaign, and will be asking Australian companies #WhoMadeMyClothes. They join global ambassadors model Lily Cole, environmental activist Laura Wells and fashion journalist Marion Hume.

To find out more and to take part in the campaign, head to FashionRevolution.org.

RELATED:

Celebrities Who Use Their Fame To Promote Charities