Two years ago, on 24 April, 1133 people were killed and over 2500 were injured when the Rana Plaza factory complex collapsed in Dhaka, Bangladesh.  They were killed working for familiar fashion brands in one of the numerous ‘accidents’ that continue to plague many fashion supply chains.

Fashion Revolution decided to take a stand and say enough is enough.

Fashion Revolution is a worldwide collective movement of individuals, companies and NGOs that have a simple mission:

”We believe in a fashion industry that values people, the environment, creativity and profit in equal measure.“

At the moment of purchase, most of us are unaware of the processes and impacts involved in the creation of a garment.   We can’t easily evaluate the true cost of what we buy. The time has come to reconnect, to understand that we aren’t just purchasing a garment or accessory, but a whole chain of effort and relationships.

Fashion Revolution Day challenges retailers to take responsibility for the individuals and communities on which their businesses depend. 

At Outsider we have been involved in the ethical & sustainable fashion movement since our launch in 2009.

We strive to know as much as possible about where our fabrics come from and how they are made before we commit to manufacture.

We have worked with three family owned factories since the beginning – one in the UK, one in Macedonia and one in India. This allows us to match factories to the skills required but also to arrange fabric to be sent direct from the producer to the factory in order to cut down on “fabric miles”. 

We are acutely aware that working in thee factories are talented human beings that deserve to be paid a fair wage and in a safe working environment. This has been a priority from our inception and will not change.

We have always been open about our ethical approach to manufacture and sourcing and are happy to answer any questions our customers might have.  Feel free to email us or post a question in the comments section of this blog post.

How can you get involved in Fashion Revolution Day?

By taking a selfie with the label showing (wear an item of clothing inside-out for added impact) posting it on social media and asking the brand Who Made My Clothes?  You can show support for greater transparency throughout the fashion supply chain. The more people who ask #whomademyclothes, the more brands will be forced to sit up and listen.

There are many events going on to mark the anniversary, for example our stockist Here Today Here Tomorrow are inviting customers to the shop this Saturday, to see how your clothes are made.

They'll be on hand to demonstrate machine knitting, garment sewing and natural dyeing. All the workshops are free so drop in anytime.

The ladies at Here Today Here Tomorrow want to inspire their customers to be curious about where their clothes come from, who made them but also to learn new skills.

Whatever you decide to do on Fashion Revolution Day, don’t forget you can make a difference.

In support of this important day we are offering all customers 20% off orders over £100 with the code FASHIONREV at checkout.