Agents of Change

Fashion Revolution's Shruti Singh breaks down Indian fashion industry's imperative issues, and arms us with effective solutions

-  Shruti Singh

On April 24, 2013, Rana Plaza building in Bangladesh that housed garment factory workers making clothes for the world's biggest fashion brands such as Zara and H&M collapsed, killing 1,100 people and injuring another 2,500. It was the fourth largest industrial disaster in history and a wake-up call for the fashion industry. The workers were forced to continue the work in unsafe and hazardous infrastructure despite several pleas. This incident made us sit up globally, to take notice of who is actually paying the price for the inexpensive high-street clothes.

Launched in 2013 as a response to the tragedy, Fashion Revolution is a non-profit global movement founded by Carry Somers and Orsola de Castro, and has been campaigning passionately for a clean, safe, fair, transparent and an accountable fashion industry. Headquartered in the UK with teams in a 100 countries, the organisation advocates for a global fashion industry that conserves and restores the environment, and values people over growth and profit.

WHY IS TRANSPARENCY IMPORTANT

Transparency is important to bring systemic changes in the global fashion supply chains to prevent brands from operating in unsafe working conditions, employing environmentally damaging practices. Of course, transparency by itself doesn't translate to sustainability but is a crucial first step in achieving a fairer fashion. Through Fashion Revolution's campaigns, we ask brands to be more transparent by asking them #whomademyclothes and #whatsinmyclothes.

#WHOMADEMYCLOTHES