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Empower and Breathe: Join the Fashion Revolution.

Today is Fashion Revolution Day.

It marks two years since 1133 people died in the Rana Plaza catastrophe in Dhaka, Bangladesh. A further 2500 were injured. They were killed whilst working for familiar fashion brands in one of the many accidents that plague the garment industry.

This tragedy gave rise to an incredible initiative, in the hope that such an atrocity never happens again. Fashion Revolution is a global collective of individuals, companies and NGOs that have a simple mission:

We believe in fashion — an industry which values people, the environment, creativity and profits in equal measure, and it’s everyone’s responsibility to ensure that this happens.

I have been part of the ethical/sustainable/eco-fashion movement since I first started work on my jewelry label 10 years ago.

I saw then that our relationship with consumerism as a global society meant that there was a lot of room within the world of what we wear to make a big difference.

There are very simple ways that we can change the way that we think about what we wear, what we buy and what we do with the clothes that we have. It’s really just about paying attention to all our actions and being in alignment with our true selves.

We become so empowered when every action we take is considered and represents our heart.

For those of us on the path to well-being and well-doing, this true alignment is so important. It’s those little things that we do in every moment that create the world around us and really make a difference.

We know that the way we react to everything is powerful, and as we stand on our Yoga mats transforming our conditioning and bringing down more love and light, how much deeper is that if we know that head to toe we are representing this aligned loving action through what we wear.

There are so many brands coming up making Yoga and spiritual wear that is made taking into account the environment and the people who make our clothes.

Having worked with many of these brands there is a common thread, people want all the values but they don’t want to pay that little bit extra.

But it’s that little bit extra that allows the brands to pick the fabrics or factories where the most positive benefit is at play.

It’s something to consider next time you think that you can’t afford the ethically made ones, the price difference is normally just that of matcha latte.

Clothes are made by so many different people across the supply chain. For example, a simple t-shirt has the farmers, spinners and dyers before it even gets to the factory.

Today, as part of Fashion Revolution, we ask, who made our clothes? Meet the makers of your clothes from all over the world by taking a photo of the label of what you are wearing and posting it on social media tagging the brand who made it.

Tell them you would like to know ‪#‎whomademyclothes‬ so you can thank them personally. Clothes are made by people, let’s show them our respect and gratitude.

READ, an NGO and TRAID partner in India, rescues teenage girls working in awful conditions in the textiles mills and gives them an education. Pure empowerment.

In Tamil Nadu, The Sumangali Scheme takes young girls below 14 years old to work in the mills for international brands until they are 18. They convince their parents they must do this so there is money for their marriage dowry

The girls are then trapped working long hours, in terrible conditions without holidays… making our clothes. READ works to take the girls out of the mills and into education, so they can be empowered and change their destiny.

 

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I am offering a charity event for Fashion Revolution in London, it’s a Yoga session with a difference.

It means a lot to me to be bringing together these two worlds that move me — sustainable fashion and Yoga — to create this uplifting and inspiring morning. We will have a direct impact as the money raised is going to READ.

The Yoga will be themed on our power to change the world around us and create more freedom in our lives.

It will be followed by an in conversation with Sarah Mac of Manuka Yoga and Wearable Art designer Laurie Nouchka talking about how we can support positive shifts in the industry, and how we can find out who made our clothes and how to support positive change in the industry.

No prior experience of Yoga, or sustainable fashion needed. And if you are not in London, you can support the cause by buying a raffle ticket!

Tickets and raffle tickets,  click here to get yours.

 

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Amisha Ghadiali

Amisha Ghadiali

Amisha Ghadiali is a sustainable living specialist, Yoga teacher and founder of radical think tank, ThinkActVote (?!X). She also created the book The Future We Choose, bringing together ideas and artwork from global contributors to inspire a brighter future. Her writing has appeared in publications including The Huffington Post. As former Associate Director of the Ethical Fashion Forum, she continues to be a strong proponent of the sustainable fashion movement, curating and hosting a series of events called Future Fashion, and is a board member and spokesperson for Fashion Revolution Day. You could contact Amisha via her website.
Amisha Ghadiali

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