Issue 1: The Deathly Consequences of Fashion

The Deathly Consequences of Fashion-lvg

(This entry was initially written for my uni assignment but hopefully still an interesting read!) 

How many times have we struggled through our cluttered wardrobes procrastinating over what to wear? We tell ourselves an unplanned event will suddenly create a need for the forgotten dress and the outdated pair of shoes although we can’t actually remember the last time they've seen sunlight. Despite charities continuously appealing for old clothes to sell and donate to those less in need we convince ourselves we have nothing to wear and preserve our old clothes because of the memories they symbolize. 

In early 2000 Lucy Shea coined the term ‘Swishing’ as a way of defining our increased consumption and love of shopping. This aligned with the newer term ‘Refashion’ thus giving hope that we can be fashionable yet green. According to Oxfordshire council approximately £660,000 is spent yearly land-filling over 8,000 tonnes of clothes, shoes and fabrics despite the fact they could all have been recycled. Attempting to decompose these materials in landfills emits methane gaswhich although colourless and odourless, reduces the amount of Oxygen in the air causing a loss of consciousness in both humans and animals. 

Annual events such as Oxford’s refashion encourage whole communities to reconsider their lifestyles in order to preserve the environment for future generations whilst giving a second life to our old clothes. Refashion refers to not only recycling clothes but also restyling older items to fit current trends whilst swishing enables us to swap items with other people. 

Despite living in Oxford for the past three years I felt unaware of the award winningRefashion eventuntil I was asked by Amy Bridgford who is the Recycling Liaison Officer of Oxford City Council and organizer of Refashion to voluntarily photograph for their website.  It was surprising to see people of all ages and from a range of diverse backgrounds getting involved with donating, swishing, repairing and modelling old clothes. This social event which collaborates with Oxford Fashion Week fuelled originality and creativity from items previously we would consider only suitable for clothes banks and charity shops. Notable charities held stalls such as Helen and Douglas House as well as opportunities to learn crafts were given by Orinoco who encourage swishing all year round at their Oxford store.  Initially I had come to the event through my keen interest in fashion related media but I left feeling inspired by the hundreds of attendees that it’s time I give my old clothes a new home and a new lease on life. 

Events such as these tend to happen on much smaller scales nationally however I believe if endorsed by more local councils and promoted on larger scales, the way we choose to recycle could reform our environment creating cleaner air for all of us. For most of us recycling old clothes means simply leaving them as hand-me-downs for siblings and relatives and we never consider how beneficial our items could be too a stranger or how they can be manipulated to suit current trends. 

As citizens of not only England but globally I feel we are all accountable for producing a greener future, surely we would all assume oxygen is a basic human right? 

We take Oxygen for granted the same way as we take our old clothes for granted, assuming it will always be there because it always has been. We can help the environment and stay fashionable whilst protecting our bank accounts if we simply consider repairing, donating, swapping, selling or recycling our old clothes before binning them. It’s time to consider how our love of fashion could have deadly consequences on not only our future but generations to come. 

For more information on Oxford's Refashion event please visit Brookes TV News for our live interview with Refashion Organizers and Orinoco.