January in Fashion, Condensed.
The hoax that fooled the industry, why recycled polyester won't fix fashion's problems, and what role do activists play in sustainability?
This month, the activist group Remake asked me to write a story about Fabletics, an athleisure brand co-owned by Kate Hudson. Remake assessed the brand and found it lacked meaningful social and environmental policies following a huge worker abuse scandal in 2021. Then it was up to me to dive deeper and report my findings.
Writing critical stories like this makes me nervous and I’ve been trying to work out why. (I have recently ruled out that I’m secretly worried Kate Hudson might read it and not like me.) After reflecting on it and listening to some interesting podcasts on activism (below) I’ve realised that a huge part of embracing the values of sustainability and social justice is about leaning into discomfort.
Whether you’re a writer, activist, conscious consumer, business owner, or what have you, some people are naturally fearless and can dive in without any hesitation or trepidation. Equally, there are plenty of people who are more cautious, people-pleasers, worried about what others think or anxious to always get it right.
I’m a big believer in doing things that scare you. If you’re intimidated by the idea of attending a protest, challenging your favourite brand or fast fashion-obsessed friend, rethinking the way you shop, or standing up for what you believe, I encourage you to trust your gut, be brave and go for it.
Pushing against the status quo takes courage and this movement needs more people to feel empowered by fear rather than inhibited by it.
Things that help me when I feel *the fear*:
If you’re going to criticise something, make sure you’ve done your research and got your facts right
Don’t do it alone — find a likeminded friend or group for moral support
Channel your outrage into a productive outlet instead of letting eco-anxiety win
Take inspiration from those who risk everything to fight for social and environmental justice. Fear certainly doesn’t stop these folks
Keep the bigger picture in mind. It’s easy to get caught up in the minutiae and miss the forest for the trees
The more fears you face, the less scary they become
As always, I love to hear your thoughts. Hit reply at the end of the email to get in touch!
Until next month,
Meg X
Things I Wrote
Not So Fab-letics: How Fabletics’ Lack of Transparency Is Leading to Dangerous Working Conditions for Remake.
“Please tell me you did not think sweatshops are where they make sweatpants,” says Peg, the assistant to actress Kate Hudson’s character Birdie in Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery. In the scene from Netflix’s new film, Peg has just discovered that Birdie’s loungewear brand, Sweetie Pants, has been working with a notorious Bangladeshi sweatshop. What appears to be a plot twist for Birdie is actually a case of art imitating life. Fabletics, co-founded by Hudson in 2013, has also been caught engaging in unethical practices.
Things I Didn’t Write
Managing Microplastics: Fashions Next Challenge by Amy Nguyen for Xeros
Does Fashion Need a Watchdog? by Harry Holmes for the Grocer
Glossy 101: What is Green Hushing? by Zofia Zwieglinska for Glossy
Not So Faux: How The ‘fake’ Fur Industry Is Secretly Selling You Real Fur by Tove Danovich for Grid
Digital vs Slow: The Future of Sustainable Fashion by Daphne Chouliaraki Milner for Atmos
How Fashion Can Combat Greenwashing In 2023 by Andrea Bossi for Fashionista
The Adidas Hoax That Fooled An Industry. Why Were People So Willing To Believe It? by Sophie Benson for iNews
Recycled Polyester Doesn’t Fix Fast Fashion’s Over-Production Problems by Charlotte Pointing for Good on You
Why A Wardrobe Audit Can Help You Be More Sustainable In 2023 by Emily Chan for British Vogue
The To-Do List
Fashion Impacts 101
This month, RCGD Global and Fashion Takes Action released a series of sustainable fashion educational videos to help build awareness of the issues facing the industry. Targeted at students and anyone looking to start their learning journey, the series hits on key issues like pollution, who makes our clothes and designing for sustainability.
Bianca Foley from the Sustainably Influenced podcast has just released a short series called Changemakers, where she interviews women in the sustainability space. This episode on activism really inspired me. Foley’s guests discuss the different ways we can be activists within our communities and share more about their own journeys.
A new clothing rental platform called Curated Loop launched in January! It’s not just any old rental platform — you can find a unique curation of samples, deadstock pieces and past season collections from really exciting independent small brands.
It’s no secret that I’m a huge fan of Clare Press’ podcast, Wardrobe Crisis. This month, I listened to a few great episodes, including the one above. Burnout is very common in fashion (been there, done that) and I’m so happy to hear people like Georgina Johnson discussing it with such honesty. Listen to the episode above or click the button below.
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