It’s Fair Trade India Week 21st - 27th November 2016
Parveen Dusanj - Bedi, Suki Dusanj - Lenz, Nin Dusanj - Shivdasani, Ceclilia Oldne - Sula Wines, Nidhi Subbaiah, Raunaq Roy - Hungama, Kabir Bedi & Aftab Shivdasani
Calling all Fashion Revolutionaries
together with Kelly Slater, Stella McCartney, Rosaria Dawson, Livia Firth
Mumbai, 21st November 2016 marked the opening of Fair Trade India week where Fashion Revolution is organised a hangout event pan-india introducing True Cost of fashion and the impact our textiles industry is having on people and the planet. Multiple screenings are happening in Mumbai, Bangalore & Chennai of the True Cost Fashion documentary by Andrew Morganin a bid to inform consumers, retailers, manufacturers and the government about change that needs to happen for a more transparent, fair and sustainable industry.
India is one of the worlds largest producers of textiles and clothes with many global brands producing their garments in India due to the competitive price points and cheap labour costs.
The textiles industry is the second largest polluter in the world. The first is oil.
“Fair Trade India’s theme this year is ‘The Power of You’ so as Head of Fashion Revolution India it is my duty to use the power of me to discuss the power of India. India is the second largest producer of silk in the world and the third largest producer of cotton. We have a massive influence on the world and its environment when it comes to the garment industry but India is paying the price for it. Why is Kanpur (dubbed as the leather export capital of the world) drenched in Chromium 6? If anybody watched Erin Brockovich they will know the scandal that the oscar nominated movie was based on - a case in California where the company Pacific Gas and Electric were sued for contaminating the drinking water in the town of Hinkley with Chromium 6, they were awarded 333 million dollars as settlement, guess where the same deadly chemical is currently being used… Right here on our land in Kanpur, India to make leather and then it is washed up on the shores of our rivers and penetrated into our land and into the water systems where disease, disability and infertility is rife. I ask the question - do Indian lives matter less? What about our people? I believe that at some point there will be a tipping point and retail brands will have to build better supply chains and relationships with their manufacturers. Although I am British born and live in Switzerland I spend a lot of time in India and I have spent years working in India. I am inherently Punjabi and come from farming roots. I have a social responsibility to use my collective power as a force for good. I care about the farmer, I care about the environment and more to the point I really do want to know who made my clothes. I support fair and transparent fashion.” Suki Dusanj - Lenz, Head of Fashion Revolution India
The Fashion Revolution has already begun, we have more sustainable brands setting up shop and we have gaged a massive global imprint digitally asking consumers & brands to show their label and ask Who Made My Clothes? We are now in 92 different countries.
We want to create a more conscious consumer. Watch this link and see what happened in Germany with the 2 Euro T-shirt experiment https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KfANs2y_frk
Jointly Fair Trade India says take a picture of you wearing a piece of clothing & “Show Your Label” then Fashion Revolution insists you ask the question “Who Made My Clothes?” tag the brand you are wearing and add the hash tag #FashRevIndia #WhoMadeMyClothes? #ShowYourLabel
Further Information
Every year we hold a Fashion Revolution week starting on the 24th April to honour those that died during the Rana Plaza disaster. However Fashion Revolution runs all year round, raising awareness of the fashion industry’s most pressing issues, showing that change is possible and celebrating those who are on a journey to create a more ethical and sustainable future for fashion.
Fashion Revolution was formed as a pro bono citizen lead organisation in response to the Rana Plaza disaster in Bangladesh that saw 1134 people die and over 2500 people injured. Factory fires or disasters are happening all over the world. The latest in India was this month in Ghaziabad where 13 people were charred to death. The global brands that produce in these factories have the resources and leverage to ensure that safety measures are met with fair working conditions. Manufacturers would be obliged to respond. Watchdog organisations can be set up by the government with stringent measures to ensure that safety and fair working conditions are imposed.
Impact
In 2016 70,000 people asked brands WHO MADE MY CLOTHES on social media with a 129 million reach of #FashRev hashtags which is double the 2015 figures.
This year over 1251 brands responded to #WhoMadeMyClothes? On social media.
Current Events
Mumbai
21st November 2016 - An invite only screening of the True Cost movie by Andrew Morgen & Fashion Revolution Hangout
Chennai
23rd November 2016 - A Clothes swap with Rossbell & Fashion Revolution, the True Cost screening & Fashion Revolution hangout
Bangalore
25th November 2016 - Multiple university events including screenings at
Azim Premji University, 3pm
26th November
Indian institute of Human settlements IIHS, 7pm
Future Summit
Fashion Revolution will be holding a pan India summit on Fashion Revolution Day April 24th 2017
Available for interviews
Head of Fashion Revolution India & Brand Ambassador - Suki Dusanj - Lenz
also the Executive Director of the Swiss Indian Chamber of Commerce
Brand Ambassador Parveen Dusanj - Bedi, Head of Bedi - Media & currently producing a documentary film ‘Landless’ based on discrimination, prejudices and patriarchy faced by 3 generations of women in one family fighting for their rights. Parveen is also the face of sustainable fashion brand House Of Milk.
Attachments area
Preview YouTube video The 2 Euro T-Shirt - A Social Experiment
