Fight Fast Fashion

[redahaq]

Name: Reda

Describe the problem you'd like to solve:

The fashion industry produces 10% of all humanity's carbon emissions, is the second-largest consumer of the world's water supply, and pollutes the oceans with microplastics. Yet we continue to consume as though our resources are limitless.

The fashion industry emits more carbon than international flights and maritime shipping combined. Here are the biggest ways it impacts the planet

Issues:

• the environmental cost of textile production (water consumption in particular)
• the chemicals used in the manufacturing process - how this affects local communities and end wearers with sensitive skin
• working conditions and wages / exploitation - who made my clothes?
• losses in the supply chain
• transportation
• overabundance of cheap, synthetic fabrics which produce microplastics - polyester, nylon
• newer sustainable textiles remain relatively unknown to consumers -eg. hemp, lyocell
• pressure on designers to create multiple collections/ new lines <=> pressure on consumers to 'keep with the trends'

Who are the stakeholders?

• Everyone
• Earth
• Retailers
• General public
• Fashion lovers
• Magazines selling consumerism/ promoting fast fashion
• Groups/ charities promoting sustainable consumption / circular economy

What is currently being done to solve this problem?

There are a number of things being done in recent years to draw attention to this issue:

• Documentaries eg Stacey Dooley's fast fashion expose
• People in the public eye like Emma Watson, Livia Firth and Meghan Markle wearing and promoting ethical brands
• Fashion Revolution: https://www.fashionrevolution.org/manifesto/ - cover a broad range of issues but main focus is on garment workers with a campaign around 'Who made my clothes?'
• Good On You app: - https://goodonyou.eco/ - Rating of brands/ encouraged to contact and ask them about their sustainability. Stories, tips and guides etc

As there is already so much out there, I'm not really sure what a useful digital/tech solution could look like, so very open to ideas and shaping this together

• My sense is that we could do something that focuses on the 'reduce/reuse'... perhaps along the lines of helping people learn the skills to 'make do and mend' their clothes rather than resorting to throw them away. Local community sewing classes to learn how to patch a hole in your jeans/ repurpose a skirt into a top and give it a new lease of life etc?