Fashion Revolution Week 2022 is on this week from 18th – 24th April 2022. Image supplied.
This is the ninth year of Fashion Revolution Week (FRW) which is the annual campaign bringing together the world’s largest fashion activism movement for seven days of action. The movement focuses on the environmental and social impacts of the fashion industry and the need for greater transparency in the fashion supply chain as well as celebrating those who are on a journey to create a more ethical and sustainable future.
The Fashion Revolution Week annual campaign is in late April in recognition of the Rana Plaza factory collapse in Dhaka, Bangladesh in 2013, where 1,138 garment factory workers were killed when the building they were working in collapsed because it was unsafe. This year, the campaign will run from Monday 18th – Sunday 24th April, with the aim to collectively reimagine a just and equitable fashion system for people and the planet.
“As we enter our 9th year, we will go back to our core, exposing the profound inequities and social and environmental abuses in the fashion supply chains,” says Orsola de Castro, Co-founder and Global Creative Director, Fashion Revolution. “From the uneven distribution of profits, to overproduced, easily discarded fashion, to the imbalances of power that negate inclusion. On the other hand, inspiring new designers, thinkers and professionals all over the world are challenging the system with solutions and alternative models. Fashion Revolution Week is all of this, scrutinising and celebrating fashion, globally and locally, wherever you are.”
This year’s theme for Fashion Revolution Week is MONEY FASHION POWER which is inspired by the archival FRW fanzine of the same name. The theme builds on the knowledge that the mainstream fashion industry relies upon the exploitation of labour and natural resources and that we need to redress that balance.
We’re well aware of the fact that wealth and power are concentrated in the hands of a few, and growth and profit are rewarded above all else in big businesses. Big brands and retailers produce too much too fast, and manipulate us into a toxic cycle of overconsumption that is harming people and our planet. Meanwhile, the majority of people that make our clothes are not paid enough to meet their basic needs, and already feel the impacts of the climate crisis – which the fashion industry fuels.
This year, Fashion Revolution is calling on global citizens to rise up together for a regenerative, restorative and revolutionary new fashion system. Throughout Fashion Revolution Week, the groundwork will be laid down for new laws on living wages for the people that make our clothes, brands will be encouraged to shift their focus away from endless growth, and consumers will be inspired to scrutinise the real value of what we buy.
To get involved, Fashion Revolution will provide the tools for people to write to their local policy maker about these issues, demand greater transparency in the fashion supply chain, support trailblazing small businesses and create their own fashion love stories to reconnect with the clothes they wear every day.
Here in Aotearoa, the Fashion Revolution New Zealand team is thrilled to be hosting an exciting series of digital events for Fashion Revolution Week 2022. Due to the ongoing effects of the global pandemic the local team have chosen to go with a digital campaign and will be focusing on online events and content this year.
In line with this year’s theme “MONEY, FASHION, POWER”, the team asked themselves ‘How do we embolden and encourage citizens and brands to become agents of their own change?’. This year’s digital campaign will aim to:
– Increase education and enable New Zealanders to gain a greater understanding of the
value of clothing as well as its societal and environmental cost;
– Equip New Zealanders with the tools to ask their favourite brands questions around
production, environmental degradation and requesting transparency;
– Educate New Zealanders on the connection between our country being an island nation
and the environmental cost of imports;
– Enable New Zealand brands to recognise and work to improve the environmental impact
of their business models
Amanda Butterworth and Natalia Bertolo continue to head up Aotearoa’s national team of fashion activists from different sectors of the industry and are excited about this year’s return to the roots of why Fashion Revolution began: to create a fairer fashion system for all.
In addition to attending ticketed online education sessions and live industry interviews, people can get involved via social media by asking “Who Made My Clothes”, “Loved Clothes Last” digital storytelling opportunities and more.
You can follow the local Fashion Revolution New Zealand campaign on their social media channels – Facebook: @FashRevNewZealand and Instagram: @fash_rev_newzealand or visit at fashionrevolution.org.
Three questions to ask during Fashion Revolution Week:
1. #WhoMadeMyClothes
Does the person who made your clothes deserve a living wage?
2. #LovedClothesLast
How much did you pay for *insert favourite clothing item here*? And how much is it worth to you?
3. #WhatsInMyClothes
What would the world look like if brands restored systems instead of depleting them?
Whether you’re a student, designer, producer, retailer, educator, union member or citizen, you can download a free digital Get Involved Guide to take action during Fashion Revolution Week. There’s also resources on how to write a letter to a brand, how to write a postcard to a your policymaker and more.
Fashion Revolution Week New Zealand digital events that are taking place on Instagram or Zoom:
Tuesday 19th April 7pm ‘What about workers?’ with @karishmadesign on IG Live
Wednesday 20th April 12pm ‘Money, Fashion, Power and Influence’ with @danni___duncan and @ethicallykate on IG Live
Wednesday 20th April 7pm ‘Deciphering certifications and standards’ with @alltcandrea from @alltc.co on IG Live
Thursday 21st April 12pm ‘Keeping ‘Made in NZ’ alive’ with @mindfulfashionnz IG Live
Friday 22nd April 12pm ‘Taking responsibility: product stewardship’ with @usedfullyworld IG Live
Sunday 24th April 3.30pm ‘Style Activism through connection to self’ with @miraculous_me_movt via Zoom – register here.
For more ideas on how you can get involved, check out Fashion Revolution Week’s website.
Images supplied.