We See You Fashion Bbrands - #TELLTHETRUTH, #ACTNOW & #PAYUP & #BUILDBACKBETTER

Covid19 has exposed and highlighted the major flaws of our fashion industry both in terms of its impact on the climate and ecological emergency, and the unethical and exploitative practices of fashion brands towards their suppliers and garment workers, who are predominantly made up of Black, Indigenous & People of Colour (BIPOC). Black, Indigenous & People Of Colour are already the most vulnerable to the impacts of fast-fashion on the climate crisis and ecological crisis. Covid19 saw brands choosing profit over people and the planet once again, leaving their garment workers without pay to look after themselves and their families during a global health pandemic.

Now the shops are back open, will the big brands go back to business as usual or can we come together to #BUILDBACKBETTER?

We need to hold fast-fashion brands to account. Join us in demanding that the brands #TELLTHETRUTH, #ACTNOW & #PAYUP & #BUILDBACKBETTER

Why are we targeting fast- fashion brands? Last year the industry produced 140 billion new garments. Fashion is a highly polluting industry - which spans from the creation stage through to its disposal. In 2015, the total greenhouse gas emissions from textiles production was estimated at 1.2 billion tonnes annually of CO2 equivalent, more than those of all international flights and maritime shipping combined (1)

Fast fashion companies have built their entire business models on the fact that we can’t stop shopping - shipping new items and new designs every month. If a business-as-usual scenario prevails, the apparel industry’s impact will steadily rise over the next 15 years, reaching a projected 49% increase in climate change impact by 2030. That means the apparel industry will emit 4.9 billion tonnes CO2-eq. (2)

PAYUP Campaign. Despite government bailouts, many big brands paused and cancelled their orders, refusing to pay up for stock they had ordered which had already been paid for by their suppliers. This has left suppliers out of pocket and their frontline garment workers without pay to look after themselves and their families in the midst of a pandemic.

This is a window into the future of what is to come. These garment workers, who are predominantly based in the global south are amongst the most vulnerable in times of crisis and this will only get worse as a result of the impacts of the climate & ecological emergency, an emergency that is heavily contributed to by the very industry that they work in.

Brands who are yet to pay up include Topshop, Urban Outfitters, Zara, Gap and Primark. Find out more about this on Remake our World, Fashion Revolution and Labour Behind the Label.

With public callouts happening left right and centre, and many of the giants in the fashion industry facing huge monetary losses, surely this has to be where we stop, re-evaluate and everything changes for a cleaner and safer world for everyone and #BUILDBACKBETTER. Now could be a turning point for fashion, but will the fashion industry go back to business-as-usual focusing on speed and high- volume production? Or will this be a turning point where brands adapt, reassess, and opt for inclusive and sustainable industrialization, prioritising innovation?

Our demands are that fast fashion brands

#TELLTHETRUTH About Climate & Ecological Emergency and how they contribute to this. About their unethical practises and exploitation of suppliers, garment workers and producers. About the climate emergency, to educate people about the crisis. #ACTNOW & #PAYUP Brands, it's time to Build Back Better! COVID-19 has exposed major flaws in the fashion industry. We can’t go back to business as usual. #PayUp for what you owe, and start reflecting inwardly looking at replacing exploitative, oppressive fashion systems that are built on overproduction and obsolescence for a regenerative circular system built on creativity and mutual benefit.

BUILDBACKBETTER

In times of crisis there is an opportunity to vision a new future. We don’t want to live on a planet that is going to die tomorrow. We need to protect, not only our fashion industry, but our world. If fashion brands think boldly and collaboratively, they can use their platform to influence people and governments. The fashion industry need to organise people's assemblies to discuss necessary solutions.

What can you do?

Sign the petition demanding that brands #PAYUP what they owe: https://www.change.org/p/unless-target-zara-walmart-c-a-jc-penney-payup-millions-of-garment-makers-will-go-hungry

Join XR Fashion Action, find out more about fashion & climate change, demand meaningful change from the industry and call for drastic government intervention. : https://www.xrfashionaction.com/fashion-and-climate-change

Join Extinction Rebellion Brighton https://xrbrighton.earth/

Hold the brands to account, get in touch and let them know that this is not acceptable . We have created these social media graphics for you to share across Instagram, Twitter and Facebook.

https://www.ellenmacarthurfoundation.org/assets/is downloads/publications/A-New-Textiles-Economy_Full-Report_Updated_1-

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