Last year we wrote an open letter to the UK Press urging the media to use London Fashion Week as an opportunity to #TELLTHETRUTH about the fashion industry’s role in the climate and ecological emergency. We also asked them to #TELLTHETRUTH about the brand's exploitation of both people and the planet. During the week we staged an action at Condé Nast HQ with two XRFA rebels glueing themselves to the front door of Condé Nast glass and one spraypainting the words “Publish the Truth” on the window to further exercise our point. Fast forward to 2021 and nothing has changed.
This year as part of the Uprising Weekend we are taking to the streets for a TOXIC SYSTEM RAVE as part of the national demo to #FREETHEPRESS. The UK Press must STOP PUSHING UNSUSTAINABLE FASHION CONSUMPTION and instead #TELLTHETRUTH about fashion's exploitation of people and the planet. They must ACT NOW and use their huge influence to PUSH FOR THE RADICAL TRANSFORMATION we need if we are to survive the climate and ecological crisis.
The UK Press is owned and controlled by a handful of billionaires disguising themselves as a 'free press’. They continue to profit from obscuring the truth on the climate crisis; scapegoating minorities and lying to sell papers, get clicks and appease shareholders. They are continuously putting profit over people and the planet. Whilst we become even more divided and disillusioned, they grow in power and wealth. They have unfettered access to our elected officials and they undermine our democracy with their propaganda and hate.
FASHION IS A TOXIC SYSTEM
Our toxic fashion industry is exploiting people and the planet, and the press is complicit - continuous and excessive production of garments is causing devastating impacts from huge CO2 emissions that are contributing to global heating, excessive water usage and pollution and the exploitation of factory workers, destroying millions of lives globally, yet still our press fail to speak out against it.
In 2018 the fashion industry produced 2.1 billion tonnes CO2eq. This represents 4% of global carbon emissions – an emissions’ share larger than that of France, Germany and the UK combined. (1)
And this is projected to keep on rising.
The fashion industry is set to grow a further 63% by 2030, sending us well on the way to a catastrophic 3 - 4°C warming; this means global political chaos, food shortages, floods and mass displacement. None of us are safe! And this isn’t just a future problem, people are already feeling the impacts right now. (2)
The Fashion Industry continues to exploit people throughout their supply chains -from producers, to cotton pickers, to garment workers. Slave labour is still rife in 2021, with 1 in 5 cotton garments linked to slave labour in the Xinjiang region of China (where Uyghur Muslims are being detained and forcibly re-educated in concentration camps).
Sexual violence is also rife within the industry. Just this year, Jeyasre Kathiravel (a garment worker in Tamil Nadu) was murdered by her supervisor after months of sexual harassment.
THE UK PRESS REFUSE TO TELL THE WHOLE TRUTH
Whilst some of the UK Press is highlighting the issues of and talking about the Fashion Industry’s role in the climate and ecological emergency, they are still promoting and working with brands who play a significant role in it. This is greenwashing! Readers deserve to know the truth #FREETHEPRESS!
We are asking for a truly free press; one that reports the reality of the Fashion Industry - including the murder of garment worker and union organiser Jeyasre Kathiravel, and the draining of the Aral Sea for cotton irrigation - rather than the latest short-lived trends or cheapest sale prices.
THE UK PRESS PROMOTE OVERCONSUMPTION
Through advertising championing exploitative fashion brands to entire sub-sections dedicated to ‘Top Discounts of the Week’, the UK Press are playing a huge role in promoting the over-consumption of unethical brands and a disposable mindset with regards to fashion.
Some examples of headlines are:
The Times - Sunday Times Style
The best clothes to buy for a staycation "Whether the British coast or countryside — come sun, rain and everything in between — there’s no excuse not to dress the part" https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/the-best-clothes-to-buy-for-a-staycation-krhn78jb9
The Guardian
Fashion Fixes for the Week Ahead https://www.theguardian.com/fashion/gallery/2021/may/29/we-love-fashion-fixes-for-the-week-ahead-in-pictures
The Sun
Thrifty shoppers show off their mega clothing hauls from Asda’s huge half-price sale – with bras slashed to just £2 https://www.thesun.co.uk/fabulous/15025379/thrifty-shoppers-clothing-hauls-asdas-half-price-sale/
The Telegraph
What to wear for every bank holiday weekend scenario, from pub lunches to garden parties
"A long weekend is finally here, and with lockdown lifted, your celebration outfits require some consideration" https://www.telegraph.co.uk/fashion/style/what-wear-bank-holiday-weekend-pub-lunches-garden-parties/
THE MEDIA SHOULD ACT NOW
TO TRANSFORM THE FASHION SYSTEM,
RATHER THAN SUSTAINING IT.
THERE IS NO FASHION ON A DEAD PLANET.
Want to join us on the streets? Get in touch with xrfashionaction@gmail.com or via our Instagram @xrfashionaction
Can't make it to the protest? We will be staging an Online Action too! (Details coming soon).
We'll also be livestreaming and sharing content over the weekend on our social media accounts. Follow XRFA on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter.
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