On Tuesday November 29th, Fashion Takes Action is hosting a high-end clothing swap to help fashion lovers reduce their environmental footprint. Toronto-based FTA has worked tirelessly since 2007 to help educate both fashion businesses and consumers on how to become more sustainable.
The average Canadian contributes seven kilograms of textiles to landfill each year, and clothing makes up a large part of it. This may seem shocking because most people do not throw clothing into the garbage, however putting unwanted garments in the bin at Goodwill doesn’t necessarily mean it ends up on the racks in the store, let alone that anyone buys it. FTA hopes to raise awareness around this issue, so consumers can feel more empowered to make smarter and more responsible clothing purchases.
“There are several ways we can be more sustainable when it comes to our clothing,” says FTA founder Kelly Drennan. “But a clothing swap is a really fun place to start! Not to mention the fact that it is also more wallet-friendly than some of the other options available, something we think people can appreciate a great deal in these tighter economic times”.
Attendees must bring at least ONE item to swap in order to participate. Advance drop off is recommended, and admission to the event is $15. For full event details, including the purchase of tickets, donated clothing criteria and drop off schedule, please visit the event’s Facebook Page.
What’s your experience of clothing swaps?
I receive a ton of press releases every day and although I open and read all of them, it’s rare that I find one inspiring enough to post about. Carrie Parry is one of those, an emerging designer whose creations are whimsical yet sophisticated, timeless yet modern, and best of all, sustainable. The Central Saint Martins grad won the Ethical Fashion Forum’s 2011 Innovation Award, and her designs are born from a passion for producing garments that never go out of style and a commitment to responsible sources and practices.
A preview of Carrie Parry's Spring 2012 collection
The Telegraph reported today that the sales of Fairtrade cotton fell by one-third last year as the trend toward cheap fast fashion a la H&M and Primark continues to ramp up. In case you’re wondering why it’s important to buy fair trade, check out this Youtube video with Lisa Butcher which explains the undeniable benefits of choosing fair trade:
Today is a holiday in Canada. On the weekend before May 24, we commemorate Queen Victoria’s birthday (something even England doesn’t do as a national holiday), open up cottages for the season, plant gardens, and expel fireworks. Regarded as the beginning of summer, Canadians affectionately call this long weekend May 2-4 because of the copious amounts of beer that gets drunk (as in 24 beers in a case).
As one fellow noted: “Rule Britannia, God Save the Queen, Go Manchester ……. whatever, I got a paid day off work today!”
Here is the Victoria Day edition of Links I Love:
Searching For Fashion Inspiration: Those Graces Friend Friday post on outside influences
The Rant – Slutty Fashion: Fashion Limbo on being S-bombed
What to do when your dream job is killing you: Style Bizarre. So you want to work in fashion, hey?
Why Not…Be a Confident Single Woman? The Simply Luxurious Life reminds us happiness comes from within, not from men.
“Character cannot be developed in ease and quiet. Only through experience of trial and suffering can the soul be strengthened, ambition inspired, and success achieved.” A quote from Helen Keller via I Believe She’s Amazing, a group committed to recognizing one million women globally.
How Your Worst Enemy Can Become the Key to Your Blogging Authority: Copyblogger‘s post for writers applies to anyone who’s facing resistance. Hint: it means go.
If you want bold, bright and beautiful prints, shop Fair Trade: Style Eyes tells why you needn’t sacrifice style for sustainable.
What else?
I had to share this non-profit inititative with you: Who Gives a Crap? is making environmentally sustainable toilet paper, selling it at the same price as regular toilet paper, and using the profits to improve water sanitation in the developing world. I’ve been buying eco-friendly toilet tissue for a long time, and now here’s a brand that also improves quality of life for those in need. Hilarious concept and a worthwhile cause.
“All you’ll have to do is choose to give a crap when you go shopping.” Indeed.
Jane Pratt launches new website, xojane.com
Jane Pratt, former editor of Sassy and Jane, is 46 now – exactly twice as old as when she started. On her brand new website XOJane.com, she talks about the perils of aging and eavesdropping.
Some hilarious lessons from a newly-minted gym rat at The Hairpin: Gym Going for the Awkward Woman.
Also from The Hairpin, recycling taken to new heights and the ultimate alternative to fur: A Stylish New Way to Wear Pet Hair
From Fashionista.com, an in-depth look at Emmanuelle Alt’s second Vogue Paris
Eating disorders are difficult to understand for the unafflicted. In Why My Recovery is Like a Big Piece of Chocolate Cake, Marci Warhaft-Nadler, founder of Fit vs Fiction, gives first-hand insight into the psychology behind binge-eating.
5 Sacred Rules or Blogging Commandments by Brunette Blogging
Let me know about your tasty reads this week!
Saturday was World Fair Trade Day, an initiative in which millions of small producers, artisans, farmers and, of course, consumers (that’s you!) celebrated the importance of fair trade: an approach to business that aims to help producers in developing countries enjoy better trading conditions and promote sustainability.
The World Fair Trade DAY 2011 theme was “Trade For People – Fair Trade your world”, encompassing the strong belief in the need to put people and the environment at the heart of trade and consumption. Consumers were encouraged to shop Fair Trade and businesses were asked to increase their supply of fairly traded items. It’s all about responsible consumption! Did you take part?
Emma Watson works for free to support fair trade fashion
Did you know that that May 14 is World Fair Trade Day? An initiative of the World Fair Trade Organization, a network of 400 fair trade organizations in 70 countries around the world, the second Saturday in May is reserved for celebrating and promoting fair trade.
What is Fair Trade?
Fair Trade is a trading partnership, based on dialogue, transparency and respect, that seeks greater equity in international trade. It contributes to sustainable development by offering better trading conditions to, and securing the rights of, marginalized producers and workers.
The theme of World Fair Trade Day 2011 – Trade for People: Fair Trade Your World - speaks to the need to put people at the heart of trade and consumption in order to create sustainable development of local communities. With 2.7 billion people living on only $2 per day, fair trade has the power to alleviate crushing poverty and transform lives.
“Fair Trade Your World” is a call to action for private consumers (that’s you and me) to make fair trade an integral part of our shopping experience, to think twice before buying something that was created by someone paid an unfair wage or under deplorable working conditions. It doesn’t need to cost more to shop ethically, and if it does – isn’t it worth spending a few extra dollars to improve the lives of workers (usually women in the case of the garment industry)?
Fair Trade is about more than paying fair prices; fair trade is also about sustainability and commitment. It focuses not on the financial “bottom line” but on the well-being of people and the planet. -Alleson Kase, co-founder of TAMMACHAT Natural Textiles (from the Fashion Takes Action website).
To take action and use your consumer dollar to effect positive change in the world, visit the Fair Trade Resource Network for online and brick and mortar stores that carry fair trade merchandise. If you are a fashion business selling fair trade goods, please give me your link I will gladly post it.
British fashion designer Vivenne Westwood is collaborating with Marie Claire magazine on a project celebrating the UN’s proclamation of 2011 as International Year of Forests. Westwood has designed a limited edition t-shirt dress exclusively for Marie Claire.
People Tree, the organic fair trade clothing company which has featured capsule collections from Emma Watson, will sell the garments on its website and 25% of proceeds will be used to support the Garo women in Bangladesh whose lives and livelihoods have been endangered by deforestation. To commemorate the event, Westwood has guest edited a special Rainforest section of Marie Claire for this month’s issue of the magazine.
Yesterday on my way to the Stacey Zhang opening on Queen West, I chatted with Greg who was campaigning on behalf of Environmental Defence, the group best known for effecting the ban on harmful BPAs in plastic baby bottles in Canada. Enivronmental Defence’s work also led to the creation of a 1.8 million-acre greenbelt in Ontario which protects farmland, rivers, streams, and environmentally-sensitive areas from urban development.
Just Beautiful is Environmental Defence’s campaign to raise awareness about toxins in our everyday personal care products. Many harmful ingredients which are illegal in Europe are still allowed in Canada and we aren’t told the whole truth about what’s in the stuff we buy. (Download a Pocket Shopping Guide for the top ten ingredients to avoid when buying beauty products from the website.) They’ve also discovered that some hair-straightening treatments which claimed to be formaldehyde-free actually contain the harsh chemical. I think I’ll take their advice and stick with my flat-iron.
Annie Leonard discusses a similar situation in the States and offers solutions on Youtube:
