Year 12 VCAL Project - Fast Fashion

The Year 12 Personal Development Skills class has been raising awareness of the impacts of Fast Fashion. They have discovered that some clothing companies are selling poorly made items of clothing that cannot be recycled. These clothes are often made in what are called ‘sweat shops’ in poor working conditions for extremely low wages. 

Clothing companies are cashing in on a ‘need it now society’ that buy clothes on trend that are only worn once. These poor-quality clothes are then collected from donation bins to sell overseas to third world countries. In the past these countries were able to on sell the clothes for an income. The quality of clothing being sent to these countries is so poor now that a majority of the clothes cannot be sold and end up in tip heaps. Also due to the scarcity of fuel for heating and cooking in these countries the clothing is burnt in place of firewood. Burning these poor-quality clothes emits toxins into the atmosphere that are resulting in an increase incidence of respiratory illnesses.

To encourage people to recycle clothing the students have formed a partnership with an organisation called ‘Dreams can come true- Formal wear hire’. Josie Cornish a local lady from Beechworth has been collecting donated Deb dresses, Wedding dresses and Formal wear to hire, making it affordable for all.  There are hundreds of dresses and men’s formal wear available. A bridal shop in Melbourne has donated $28,000 worth of dresses. The students have helped Josie catalogue the clothing as well as assisting her find a permanent home for her clothes.