The College Sustainable Council and the Trieste Greenpeace group organized a joint event at UWC Adriatic on Saturday February 3rd – Fashion Revolution! about the often overlooked side-effects of the fashion industry.
The focus was on campaigns launched by Greenpeace International and triggering a discussion on the current way in which clothes are manufactured and the impact this has on the environment as well as possible solutions to change our personal behaviours and the attitude of the society.
After a very coherent and effective introduction by Elena, a member of the local Greenpeace group, the participants moved on to a so-called Swap Party. The purpose of this is, as the name suggests, to swap unwanted clothes and therefore learn to recycle and reuse instead of practising infinite, unreflected consumerism. The Swap Party was a great success, and T-shirts that to someone appeared to be out of fashion one minute turned out to be someone else’s new favourite piece the next.
After a re-energising lunch break, we were ready for the last part of the workshop. Together we watched the 2015 documentary The True Cost which did not only further extend our understanding regarding the environmental aspect of the clothing industry, but was also provided us with an eye-opening insight regarding the inhumane worker’s circumstances.
The event was very informative and a great experience for all involved as well as a very effective collaboration with local Greenpeace activists which will definitely be repeated.
