FASHION REVOLUTION

https://www.fashionrevolution.org/

Fashion Revolution is a collective of designers, academics, writers, business leaders, policymakers, brands, retailers, marketers, producers, makers, workers and fashion lovers from all around the world who make the fashion industry work with a shared belief in a fashion industry that values people, the environment, creativity and profit in equal measure. They want to unite people and organisations to work together towards radically changing the way our clothes are sourced, produced and consumed so that our clothing is made in a safe, clean and fair way. This implemented by collaboration across the whole value chain — from farmer to consumer — the only way to transform the industry, they say. 

This description is very relevant to the general goals and purpose of my project, however, Fashion Revolution operates on a much larger industry-wide scale to educate and promote change from the top down. Whereas by project targets primarily the consumer and their attitude as a means of social change. If we can shape society to think differently then larger companies and industry will be forced to rethink the way they design and manufacture clothing. 

The collective attempts to empower citizens to take on big business via email templates that can be sent off to global fashion houses who are not taking responsibility for their over output. There is also a free downloadable guide titled 'how to be a fashion revolutionary'. Book is a comprehensive manifesto of the goals and means of activism that the foundation represents.

Looking at a guide this comprehensive makes it harder to envisage how my guide would stand out from the already available material. However, I think the answer to that is to target the issue on a far more personal, local and specific scale. If my guide, for example, focused on supplying local knowledge to people in the UK e.g. where to find charity shops in their city and then went on to promote ideas on upcycling then it breaks down what is a very large and complex issue into something more effective for a specific demographic. 

There is also a bi-annual fanzine released that is more topical of course but discusses similar issues and documents the progress made by the movement. This is sold for £15 but can be seen on the website for free, making the money a kind of donation. I need to consider how I would position my own
  

"Fanzine 04: FASHION CRAFT REVOLUTION

The fourth in a series of bi-annual collectable fanzines which seek to uncover the stories behind the clothing we wear.

In this issue we focus on craft as culture. With thought pieces on cultural appropriation, intangible cultural heritage and globalisation, we discover why it’s so important to honour and celebrate crafts and artisans whilst a the same time, discussing their challenges in the 21st century and what the future of craft may look like.

104 pages, 240 x 170mm, printed in full colour on recycled, uncoated paper. Printed sustainably in the UK by Seacourt.

The fourth in a series of bi-annual collectable fanzines which seek to uncover the stories behind the clothing we wear.

FASHION CRAFT REVOLUTION is an extensive examination of how we interact with craft in the age of the Anthropocene –  from the effects of globalisation, to the plight of the homeworker; the crafts that are on the brink of extinction, and the ones that are alive, kicking, and actively embracing new technologies to ensure the hand-made and the artisanal remain relevant for the future.  

This issue is 240 x 170mm and 104 pages long. Printed in full colour throughout with a pull out pattern section with how to’s from Katie Jones, Mindful Mending and Pragya Sharma.

As with all our zines we aim to be surprising, thought provoking and solution based as well as making a strong and beautiful visual impact to enhance the journey."