How to create your own Fashion Revolution

Shop your values! Support slow fashion brands like Good Studios, part of Biome's Slow Fashion range

Fashion Revolution Week is a time to celebrate all the amazing local designers and makers setting the new standard in transparent, responsible business.
Here's how you can continue a Fashion Revolution after the week's over.

Each year when Fashion Revolution Week sweeps the world, we're reminded of the horrific Rana Plaza collapse in Bangladesh that killed more than 1100 garment workers on 24 April, 2013.

From that event the global Fashion Revolution movement was born.

I believe we can, will and already are seeing massive change in the fashion industry - and it's about people power.

Here's how you can get involved and create your own Fashion Revolution, all year round.

Even though it's thrifted, I'm asking CottonOn who made my tee!

Be a tag dag.

You'll see many people asking #Whomademyclothes this week (and hopefully beyond!). We should all stay curious and don't be afraid to ask!

The idea is we see brands, makers and producers responding with #Imadeyourclothes in a show of transparency.

Wear your favourite outfit - showing the tags! - take a photo and tag that brand on social media, asking "Who made my clothes?" I'd love to hear what response you get.

Read: How transparent are the 150 largest fashion brands? 

Why does transparency matter?

It's the first step to a fair fashion industry - if brands are happy with what they are doing, how they are treating workers and the environment, then they should be happy to share that with us, their customers.

And if they're not, it's time they figured out what happened in their supply chains and made responsible business decisions.

Want to know how the 150 largest fashion brands stack up? Check out Fashion Revolution's Fashion Transparency Index 2018.

Keith of Lochcarron of Scotland - he's a weaver!

Shop your values.

There are so many brands and makers doing things ethically - the list is only growing!

I'm a huge fan of eco store Biome's new Slow Fashion range featuring both Australian and international brands. I'm wearing my new favourite Good Studios hemp linen jumpsuit in the header image - ethically made in South Australia!

Show you support this way of doing business and choose brands that match your values. Not sure where to start (other than this blog of course!)?

Check out The Kind Guide directory for more ethical brands than you'll ever need! Founder Samee Lapham has made it super easy to shop your values, with a handy filter for categories including charitable, upcycled, minimal waste, vegan, organic and more.

The Alice Nightingale page on The Kind Guide ethical shopping directory

Download the Good On You app for next time you need to choose between brands.

Shop directly via Well Made Clothes and check out their cleverly-defined values too.

And if you really love a brand and want to know more about how they make their pieces, get in touch with them and just ask!

Buy things already in rotation.

My wardrobe is a rotation device. No really!

I buy almost everything second-hand (and that's not just clothes), and then when a refresh is due I donate them, sell them or give them away and keep the cycle going.

It's important to buy from thrift stores if you also want to donate to them - quality in, cheapies out!

But I believe one of the most important things with this approach when op shopping, is to BUY from these stores if you expect to DONATE to them too. This helps keep the second hand market strong and keeps the fast, cheapie, poor-quality items out of our thrift stores!

Look out for good labels, high quality and natural fabrics and staple items you will get a lot of wear out of.

Keep it going: Check out my guide to shopping second hand first and my tips on getting thrifty.

-  Ash

Me in my vintage 'flower power' dress from second hand store SWOP Clothing Exchange!