It's a fashion revolution! This week-long event in Malta is promoting sustainable shopping
There’s a revolution happening in Malta. But instead of using placards and protest, people are using a needle and thread to send their message!
This week marks six years since more than 1,000 people were killed when a garment factory collapsed in Bangladesh. The tragic deaths sparked a global discussion about the working conditions of people who make clothes for brands such as H&M and Zara.
Around the world
In more than 100 countries around the world – including Malta – events are taking place between 23rd-29th April to shine a light on the true cost of the global fashion industry. Heading up the campaign locally are cousins Tamara and Michela Fenech.
Launching the event at boutique store Salt & C in Ta' Xbiex, Tamara said, “the idea is to put pressure on brands and demand transparency. We want companies to start mapping out their supply chain, because many people don’t realise what actually goes into making clothes. Even a simple T-shirt might go through three countries before its completed and sold. It’s madness. So we are trying to create awareness and educate the consumer so that they can vote with their feet and begin to choose the companies they want to buy from.”
What to expect
As well as two movie screenings, an upcycling workshop will take place at the Malta Society of Arts in Valletta on Tuesday 23rd. Here, people will learn how to repair and recycle clothes they already have. But if you’re not very handy with a sewing machine, the Levi’s shop in Valletta will have a ‘Repair Café’ open on the 27th, where you can bring up to five items to be mended.
“In the last few decades we’ve been taught that the more we buy, the more we’ll be happy,” adds Tamara. “But in actual fact, people don’t even wear a lot of the clothes in their wardrobe. We’re hoping these events in Malta will change that.”
Meanwhile, the Veg Box at Vincent’s Eco Farm in Attard is holding a natural dye workshop for parents and children aged 6 – 10 years-old. The cost is €25 for one parent and one child, or €30 for one parent and two children.
Have your say
“The impact of the fashion industry is not something we can ignore anymore,” says Tamara. “Climate change is happening. It’s the biggest pandemic of our time. The fashion industry creates so much waste. Even after the world woke up to what was happening in Bangladesh, things still didn’t change quickly enough and 2017 was another deadly year. The conversation keeps going around in circles and we need to figure out more actionable steps. As consumers we do hold a lot of power with the choices we make. Remember that every single cent we spend on clothing is a vote we can use to make changes.”
The fashion activists are also asking people to take part in a global social media campaign that runs throughout the week. You simply turn an item of clothing inside out, take a selfie pointing to your label and then tag the company who made it using the hashtag whomademyclothes.
Fashion Revolution will finish off its week with a large clothes swap at Cloudberry Club in Sliema on the 28th. Here people can bring seven items of clothing they don’t want any more, and exchange them for seven more pieces. “The idea is that you create zero waste and stop more clothes from going into a landfill. Instead, you’ll go home with someone else's wardrobe.” Guilt-free shopping you say? Where do we sign up?
Check out Fashion Revolution Malta's Facebook page for more details.