Sustainability

Climate Justice is Social Justice or how to avoid fast fashion

Clothes shopping used to be an occasional event - something that happened a few times a year when the seasons changed or when we outgrew what we had. But then, some 20 years ago, something changed. Clothes became cheaper, trend cycles sped up and shopping became a hobby. Enter fast fashion: cheap, trendy clothing that samples ideas from the catwalk or celebrity culture and turns them into garments in high street stores at breakneck speed to meet consumer demand. The idea is to get the newest styles on the market as fast as possible, so shoppers can snap them up while they are still at the height of their popularity and then, sadly, discard them after a few wears.

So what? Why write about it now? 

Because every action comes with a consequence, 

Because we are all stuck at home at the moment

Because times of change are opportunities to change - 

Because we are running a blanket and coat drive

Because recent weather events like the 2020 bushfires in Australia, the current drought, heatwave and wildfires in Western parts of America, as well as floods and storms all around the globe are clear signals that human actions (or inactions) are accelerating lives threatening climate change.

Because our six core values - compassion, courage, hope, hospitality, justice and wonder challenge us to be the best version of ourselves for the good of our community and planet

Back to fast fashion, climate and social justice. You have probably heard of the consequences and true costs of fast fashion, including 

• killing animals, often illegally for leather, fur, wool or silk
• unfair and unsafe working conditions and pay, modern day slavery and child labour, despite some improvements in recent years
• lung fibrosis and emphysema causing practices like sandblasting to get the ‘worn-out’ look in jeans: abrasive particles are forced across denim at high speeds
• fashion footprint is one of the highest: water use in the production and every time you wash your clothes as well as CO2 emissions in production, transport and when throwing away
• pesticides, insecticides and microplastics

So, what can we all do?

Here are some ideas to do our part for climate and social justice and how to avoid fast fashion:

Next time you go shopping, let the Ethical Consumer Guide help you make good choices.

And … if you have a spare coat or blanket that you no longer need, please don’t throw it away. Keep it for our Coat and Blanket Drive :)

Thank you

Ruth Phillips

Sustainability Leader

#ClimateJusticeIsSocialJustice

#SlowFashion

#ShopEthical

Information and graphs sourced from: 1million women, ethical consumer guide, good on you, Unesco and stock photos websites