In April 2013, the Rana Plaza building in Bangladesh collapsed. More than 1100 people died and another 2500 were injured, making it the fourth largest industrial disaster in history.
The Rana Plaza building was a fast fashion hub. People died making fast fashion. That’s the bottom line.
So now, every April, Fashion Revolution campaigns for change in the fashion industry, raising awareness about the social and environmental impacts of fast fashion.
The industry solution is simple: ditch the fast fashion model and embrace a slow fashion approach. Break ties with slave labour and support ethical manufacturing processes. Choose sustainability over greed. It all sounds simple, so why isn't it happening?
Well, the fashion industry is complicated, fashion supply chains are a mess, and we've created a system that doesn't work, but we can't just shut it down. We need to change it, but change is slow.
Slow doesn't mean impossible.
So, this month inside the Slow Fashion Circle, we're delving into all things ethics, so you can learn exactly how to be ethical, what 'ethical fashion' really means, if you need accreditation to call yourself ethical, and how to use your values and ethics to build a brand that consumers want to support. We're taking the virtue of doing what's right and turning it into a vessel to change the world through fashion - and increase your sales in the process. Because if you're running an ethical, sustainable, circular, slow or handmade brand, the world needs you to grow so you can continue to use fashion as a force for good.
This month inside the Slow Fashion Circle, you'll have a front-row seat with some incredible industry experts including...
🤓 Marnie Goding, the Co-Founder of ELK The Label, on how she's turned transparency into a selling strategy and built one of Australia's most successful slow fashion brands.
🤓 Sandra Capponi, the Co-Founder of Good On You, on passing Good On You's ethical auditing test and how their rating system can help you scale your ethical fashion brand.
🤓 Amber Hodgman, the General Manager of Medley Jewellery (a million-dollar jewellery label) on ethical sourcing and how to use your ethical values to generate sales.
🤓 Sarah Knop, Co-Author of the Ethical Fashion Report, on modern slave labour and how to avoid it, the real problems with modern fashion, and how to avoid making major fashion supply chain mistakes.
🤓 Rachel McCurry, Project Officer at Ethical Clothing Australia, on ethical vs unethical production, what an ethical wage needs to include and how to gain Ethical Clothing Australia accreditation.
🤓 Athena Savvas, Sustainability and Projects Manager at M.J. Bale, on creating an engaging marketing and communications strategy built on ethics to convert customers and increase your positive impact.
🤓 Sam Platt, the Climate Solutions Manager at Fairtrade Australia and New Zealand, on why fair trade is important, finding fair trade suppliers and auditing your supply chain to make sure you're sourcing ethically.
🤓 Claire Goldsworthy, the Founder of The Fashion Advocate (me, hello!) for an office hours strategy call on all things ethical fashion, so you can wrap up the month with clarity and get the answers you need to move forward and build an ethical fashion brand that you believe in.
Woah... What a month!
If you want in, head to the Slow Fashion Circle membership page here and join the party. The Slow Fashion Circle membership is the strategies, support and guidance you need to grow, run your business with ease, and create a positive impact through fashion.
Claire.
