Last Friday, 24th April, saw the second year of Fashion Revolution Day, a global movement of events and activism held to mark the anniversary of the Rana Plaza factory collapse in Dhaka, Bangladesh.
Marking two years since the disaster, where over 1133 people were killed and over 2500 were injured, Fashion Revolution is a worldwide platform designed to challenge retailers to take responsibility for the individuals and communities on which their business depends.
A series of events, talks and exhibitions were held in 71 countries across the globe for anyone who is interested in knowing more about where their clothes come from and be part of the movement that seeks to encourage change and raise standards in the industry.
In London, the Designer Jumble Sale set up in Marble Arch offering ethical makeovers and beauty advice by Novel Beings along with rentable designer style by Rentez-Vous and rails of secondhand designer bargains. Elsewhere, the Who Makes Our Clothes Foundation Agency opened its doors for a sustainable brands sample sale with workshops by ethical designers and garment workers.
Ethical retailer, Traid, held a late night opening in its Sheperd’s Bush location, donating all sales to the National Garment Workers Federation, as well as promoting the Clean Clothes Campaign that lobbies fashion brands to compensate for the disaster’s victims loss of income and medical bills.
Indies also got involved, such as Here Today Gone Tomorrow in Dalston, who held workshops demonstrating machine knitting, garment sewing and natural dyeing, designed to inspire customers to be curious about where their clothes come from, who made them and to learn new skills.
Online, consumers were asked to take a selfie with their label showing, or even wearing an item inside-out, an posting it on social media asking the brand #WhoMadeMyClothes?