Happy October! I can’t believe it’s the end of Week 3 already. Time flies when you’re fighting freshers flu and already drowning in deadlines. If you’re a first year, I hope you’re learning to seek solace in book shops and cafes, out of the ‘dreich’ Edinburgh weather. These quiet weeks after the initial bombardment of introductory lectures and welcome events can feel like a heavy weight, especially when you’ve worked so hard to be here. I know I retreated into myself for a long time in that first semester of first year, only eventually unearthed by fledgling friends who I’ve held close for the last four years (hi, Ellie, Esther and Esmé). If this resonates, I recommend you read our Love Letter to a Fresher, written by Head Blogger Sarah Dooley. Sarah reflects on the incredible challenges of first year that shape us as students and people, encouraging us all to show up as the ‘fullest, loveliest, bravest version’ of ourselves.
Perhaps you’re a well-established student here in Edinburgh. You know the best-kept secrets of the city, have gleefully mined all available charity shops for your autumn wardrobe, and are painfully aware that in order to claim a seat in Teviot all attempts must be made before quarter to ten. It’s so good to be back.
It was utterly delightful to meet so many of you at the Activities Fair, as well as at our film night (Devil Wears Prada is truly timeless) and our Saturday night pre-drinks. The value of community is at the heart of our society, and we hope that emanates into the work that we do. The Fashion Society brought this year’s committee together in the midst of the pandemic and forged friendships that will no doubt last beyond our days at Edinburgh; in turn, we intend to work collaboratively to build a platform that unites students in celebrating our values of community, sustainability, inclusivity and diversity.
Our name- the Edinburgh University Fashion Society- has the potential to intimidate. Firstly, please rest assured that our goal is not to advocate maxing out your student loan on high-end designer clothing or chasing after that elusive limited edition piece. If you find joy in these things, that’s wonderful, and we’re glad to have you. However, it is hard to reconcile a love for clothes with the reality that this multi-billion dollar industry causes direct harm to people and planet. Human rights are frequently violated in the garment industry, and this is particularly acute for women. Fashion Revolution reports that in Bangladesh, 50% of female garment workers ‘rarely felt safe’ in their factory, while in Cambodia 45% reported witnessing a fire in their factory and 82% of female employees reported pregnancy as the primary reason for workplace discrimination. ‘At least they have a job’ is simply not good enough. If a British workplace mandated unpaid overtime, increased likelihood of sexual violence* and manipulated employees into taking oral birth control (Siegle, 2008), there would be public outrage. Out of sight must not mean out of mind.
In its current state, the fashion industry not only harms those on the production line, but also the planet as a whole. The enormous issue of environmental sustainability presents myriad problems to solve. Fashion Revolution reports that:
‘In the U.K. people purchased 1.13 million tonnes of clothing in 2016 alone, causing 26 million tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions from production to disposal and putting clothing fourth after housing, transport and food in terms of its impact on the environment (WRAP, 2017). Yet the average U.K. household left nearly a third of their clothes unworn over the past year (worth over £1,000 per household, £30 billion in total) and every year an estimated 300,000 tonnes of used clothing — about £140 million worth — goes to landfill in the U.K. (WRAP, 2017).
This is abhorrent not only for those working in abject poverty to grow, harvest and transport the materials, but also because many popular synthetic materials such as polyester and acrylic can take a millennium to break down in landfill. That’s right- if William the Conqueror had bought a cute nylon mini skirt off Boohoo, we might still be able to find it today.
Ultimately- we do not have time to waste.
It is down to our generation to re-imagine the future for fashion and to vote with our wallets for the world we want to see. It is not our intention to debilitate you with crippling climate anxiety- and trust me, we get it- but rather to inspire each other to do the best we can with the tools we have. This year, we’ll be bringing you a range of events on this theme, from charity shop crawls that encourage a cyclical approach to shopping to fashion shows that find new life in old clothes. We’ve already had suggestions for events that teach sewing and DIY skills, and we are excited to work on making those happen. Finally, we will be inviting key figures from across the sustainable fashion movement to speak at the university, offering you the opportunity to network with some of the leading voices in the field.
I hope you’ll join us at our AGM on Wednesday 13th October, during which we’ll be electing a new Treasurer, Secretary and Blog team. To stay in the loop with everything we’re up to, follow us on @uoefashionsociety.
It’s an extraordinary honour to be your President this year. If there is anything I can help you with personally, please don’t hesitate to reach out either on Instagram (@ellie.ashton) or via email (s1834736@sms.ed.ac.uk).
Love,
Ellie xx
Comments