FASHION REVOLUTION Maribor!
FASHION REVOLUTION in Maribor! Yes, indeed, Maribor joined the global movement for a more fair, environmentally friendly and transparent textile industry Fashion Revolution in the week between April 22 and April 28, 2019. Why? Because I think it's time to start talking about the reality of today's clothing industry and its impact on the environment and people! The Fashion Revolution in Maribor was carried out with similarly thinking organizations and individuals who are aware of this problem and have been active in this field for a long time. With this campaign, we wanted to make other people aware of the problem of fast fashion, to encourage them to reflection and to offer alternative solutions and opportunities for a more sustainable fashion approach.
Today's fashion and textile industry is becoming more and more dirty and exploitable in all aspects. In the whole process, from the beginning of clothing production to the end user and also the textile product, as a form of waste, is primarily a major environmental problem. The spraying of plants for the production of textile materials with various pesticides and other chemicals, the great loss of natural resources in the process of the production of garments itself, and the transport and distribution cause pollution for the environment and the space in which we live. On the other hand, not only the planet Earth suffers, but also people who are heavily exploited from the viewpoint of ethics are involved in this chain.
The textile industry is the second largest pollutant of the environment, after the oil industry. At the annual level, it produces as much as 80 billion new pieces of clothing, mostly produced in developing countries such as Bangladesh, Cambodia, India, Vietnam, and China. These clothes are created in so-called sweatshops, where workers work in an impossible conditions for (too)low wages, with which they hardly survive over a month. Not to mention that also children are often involved in this work. The main markets for the textile industry are Europe and North America, thats why we have to ponder on ourselfs and our actions. Large companies such as H&M, Zara, Primark, Mango, Benetton, etc., aim only to increase profits for their benefit. It has already come to the point that fashion trends are changing from week to week, and thus persuade consumers with a constant craving for something new and buying clothes that they probably do not need at all.
These are real facts that sometimes, when we enter in such large clothing stores, we are not even aware of. So, what and who are we supporting with the purchases of such pieces of clothing? Are we aware of the fact that this kind of garments have been created on the basis of the exploitation of the workforce and the environment, and that at the same time these products also affect our health?
Of course, I used to do that too! The society in which we live gives a lot to the look of an individual, and with clothing we show our status and current feelings. My purchases were once based on the current mood and actions offered by shops. During the study of Textile and Clothing Design, I realized that it is really not possible that the T-shirt in the store can be worth only 2 euros. While purchases of new clothing and other goods, I had to become more aware about this ideas and to become more responsible.
FASHION REVOLUTION is therefore the largest global movement for a more fair, transparent, safer and cleaner fashion industry. In the week between 22nd and 28th April, the date coincides with the sixth anniversary of the biggest disaster in the garment industry, when, in Bangladesh, in the town of Dhaka, the Rana Plaza factory broke down and buried 1,138 people beneath, more than 2,500 people were injured, they encourage people to start asking brands about the origin of their clothing. With Who made my clothes? campaign, they raise awareness about the fast fashion industry and want people to become more aware of this facts, so that they start asking brands under what conditions do people work at the factories that manufacture these clothes and whether the materials that we wear on our skin are good for our health?
In 2017, Julija Beršnjak, manager of the Smetka shop & book caffe launched the first Fashion Revolution in Maribor. The idea seemed very interesting to me, so I joined the movement. Together with the team of Smetka, we created an event where we asked passersby if they knew Who made their clothes? We made an action in front of the store, asking people about the origin of their clothes, took pictures and raise awareness about the trends and issues of the fast fashion industry. Of course, we also offered them an alternative - vintage clothing and Neutral’s eco - ethically produced t-shirt, which they could have bought in the store and arranged group ordering of other clothing that they have at their disposal.
After this event, I was really even more aware of this problem that we create. I became more and more careful in purchasing clothes and began to look at product labels - to their origin and from which materials they were produced.
You can read more about this event on this link.
In 2018, Maribor connected with Ljubljana! The Fashion Revolution Week events then took place at different locations throughout Slovenia. In Fair Trade 3MUHE (Ljubljana), they prepared an ethical makeover and presented ethical fashion designers in Slovenia. “Green shop” (BTC City Ljubljana) also presented ethical designers and I had the opportunity to speak honestly with them about this issue. In the Smetka shop & book caffe, this year, we also prepared a gathering and conversation with local designers with the cup of the fair trade Buna coffee. And there were also quite a few conversations and exchanges of clothing in the Environmental Center (Ljubljana) and ZPM Maribor, where we organized a round table on Ethical Fashion in Slovenia and you can see the
conversation on this link.
You can read more about this event on this link.
And this year, during the period between April 23 and April 26 2019, FASHION REVOLUTION took place, very intensive, also in Maribor! With other like-minded organizations, we prepared various events that were held around the city during this time.
We started the Fashion Revolution Week with the exchange of clothing named "CUNJAMI", which is being carried out at the ZPM Maribor, now already for the second year by volunteers, every last Tuesday of the month. Exchange rules are easy! At "Cunjami" you can bring up to 10 clean and well-preserved pieces of clothing or fashion accessories. At the event, you can select things in the value of the number of "cunjami" and show them to the volunteer(s) who is on the receiving point at the time of departure. Any unused "cunjami" can be transferred to the next exchange of clothing. As usual, the event was accompanied by a practical workshop, this time a sewing workshop with Ninarozina. THINK EKO - EXCHANGE YOUR CLOTHES!
You can find more information about the event on this link.
On Wednesday, April 24, FASHION REVOLUTION in Maribor was joined by Lucie Görlichová who stands behind the fashion brand of sustainable clothing LUCI. Lucie itself designs and manufactures minimalist, timeless, ethical clothing and fashion accessories made of natural materials (organic cotton, flax, wood). She designs with minimal waste; for example, residual fabrics are used for recycling projects. Lucie presented us with her new spring - summer collection of clothes at the Slovenska - Local made store and gave us fashion advice.
I met Lucie Görlichová at the end of my studies. Her story and the whole vision of clothing design inspired me and motivated me further. I support Lucie on her journey from the very beginning, and I wish her many further successes.
On Thursday, April 25 and Friday, April 26, the Center for Creativity together with Andreja Japelj the designer of interior, events, exhibitions and products prepared Pop-up start: Second hand selected clothes, that were exhibited and available for sale in the center itself. With the selection of clothes presented at the event they showed that the clothes offered by these shops can also be high quality, fashionable and affordable, and by purchasing this we will contribute to a more conscious consumption of clothing.
At the exhibition were presented clothes of Textile House Slovenia, Superstyle and Hahaha Second hand. Pop-up was followed by a conversation with Second Hand stores about how they started their own business and where do they buy clothes.
During this FASHION REVOLUTION in Maribor, we wanted to present people different alternatives and other approaches that they can choose, instead of going shopping in fashion giants, and thus preferring to support local designers or other people who follow the vision of a more sustainable fashion. Fashion Revolution was really lovely fashionable gathering. I also realized that more and more people are aware of this problem of fast fashion and that they are also ready to change something in this field. Thanks again to all the visitors, participants and those outside who helped to spread the voice of FASHION REVOLUTION in Maribor! Without you, this fashion gathering would not be so special.
The fashion event was also published in the media and you can read more about this here.