Q&A With Mya-Rose Craig - “Birdgirl”
SFW is proud to have Mya-Rose Craig (AKA Birdgirl) on our team. Mya is (among many things) a birder, race equality activist and environmental campaigner, as well as the youngest person ever to have seen half of the world’s bird species. Mya writes her own blog, and below has provided us some valuable insight into sustainable fashion and intersectional environmentalism.
What role does the sustainable fashion sector play in illuminating why there is a need for intersectional environmentalism?
I believe the role of the sustainable fashion sector is to carry out and publicise research demonstrating the impact of the mainstream fashion industry, including the fast fashion sector. Research should be fair and take into account the needs of those working in the garment sector in the Global South, and those who are the worst offenders should be highlighted (such as supermarkets). The sector should look at the environmental impact of clothing as well as the human cost. The best way to monitor factories is to inspect regularly and to pay a fair price. Fast fashion is at odds to sustainable fashion. My uncle owns 3 factories in Bangladesh. He once took a contract from Sainsbury for jeans just to get his foot in the door - they did not mention compliance and my uncle knew the profit margin was tiny. Any decent company would have inspected the factory and been all over compliance issues. They changed the design 3 times and he made a big loss as he pays a decent wage.
How can the narrative of sustainability in fashion be more inclusive and accessible to people of all backgrounds and identities?
We need a change in the sustainable fashion sector across the board, including magazines. The sector needs to be going into inner-city schools to be educating teenagers about what jobs are available, and the work experience and qualifications needed. We need jobs that are post A Levels for people who can’t afford to go to university. We need the faces of people working in the sector to be diverse and showing those faces in magazines. We need year 10 work experience placements, paid internships and jobs.
What changes would you like to see in the industry in the next 12 months?
A guarantee of contracts being sufficient to pay decent wages. A programme of going into schools and work placement geared to inner city students.
What advice would you give the SFW team in reaching out to and engaging with people from all backgrounds and inspire action?
To contact inner city school, set up talks and meetings and try to engage VME young people. Lots of South Asian and African girls are interested in sewing, so it is just a question of finding them.
Which of our SFW themes (Regenerate, Rebel, Rewear or Repurpose) do you think you most engage with in your relationship with fashion?
I would say rebel and rewear. I would love to repurpose but can’t sew so get my gran to make alterations. Most of my clothes are vintage or second hand. I rebel because I have my own style and fashion and am not a slave to fashion at all.
Visit Mya’s Instagram page and Blog for more information on what this fab human is doing for the planet and its people:
https://www.instagram.com/birdgirluk/