Monday 10th May saw the launch of SFW’s latest partner, FIDA - an open-access online learning platform that empowers young people to learn in new ways, through innovative projects rooted in the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (UN SDGs).  It has been created to address three fundamental challenges – sustainability, equitable access to education, and the need for curricular reform.

Do you want to learn more about the true cost of fast fashion? Why not spend an evening watching a documentary with us? On the 12th May, we’re hosting the SFW Night In; an evening to come together and watch a Sustainable Fashion documentary. Whilst covid restrictions have meant our life events has been postponed, we want to bring everyone together (virtually) in an evening of relaxed education. In this blog post, Isabelle has listed some eye-opening documentaries available online.

One of our SFW ambassadors, Alice Revell, is also an ambassador for the Y7, the official youth engagement group for the G7. This week, a few of our ambassadors met on zoom and had a really engaging chat about the issues in the fashion industry and came up with solutions that Alice will be putting forward to the climate change delegate for consideration.

We’ve teamed up with students from the University of Bristol’s Engaged Learning team to run a survey about what barriers to participating in sustainable fashion people might experience. We’re keen to get a sense of what support people in the community might need to help them make positive changes in their fashion habits. We’re going to look at the team’s progress as they go along, but here’s a little introduction to the students and their backgrounds…

Earlier this week our Partnerships Lead, Amber Rochette, chatted with Alex Henden from Changes Bristol; a community-based mental health charity that provides free peer support groups and one-to-one befriending services to help improve people’s mental wellbeing. We are delighted that the organisation is also one of SFW’s latest partners.

With the beginning of spring and the approach of lockdown’s end, the UK feels on the brink of a new life. This week we look at the Christian practices of Lent and Easter, and what they can teach us about environmentalism and our quest towards a fairer, greener and happier planet.

It’s International Day of Forests… and we’re thrilled to announce today that the UK branch of the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC UK) is now a sponsor of SFW!

Here, SFW Volunteer Alex looks into fibres that derived from trees. Yep, that’s right. Many of our favourite fabrics are composed of fibres that originate in forests - and their use is on the up in the industry. What are the benefits and what are the considerations?

Naomi Austin previously designed men’s & boys’ sportswear for a number of high-profile brands such as Reebok, Umbro and Marks & Spencer's. Now, alongside being a full-time senior lecturer in fashion design & promotion at the University of Sunderland, she is working towards a PHD. Her research has been focused on the potential for high street chains to use bast fibres (hemp, linen & ramie) as they have a much lower demand for water and energy. Here she answers a few Qs put to her by the SFW Team.

In 2015, the UN launched the 17 Sustainable Development Goals as a guide for Member States to achieve sustainability in their countries. At SFW, we work to incorporate each goal into our organisation but today we talk specifically about poverty, gender inequality, climate action, clean energy and responsible consumption.

We’re looking for a Social Media Lead volunteer to join our team to manage all day to day aspects of our social media channels. Have a read through our role brief and get in touch for more information…

Funsho is a trainee maths teacher with a passion to learn about and implement all things sustainable and ethical.  She is SFW’s new Digital Programme Leader; designing digital content for our website and social media. In her spare time, Funsho manages the YouTube channel 'Girl on The Way'; creating home sustainability videos, with the aim of informing her audience about ethical and environmentally friendly lifestyle alternatives.

Introducing one of our community inclusion volunteers, Alice. She’s based in Falmouth, studying Fashion Design and running her side-hustle of creating designs from fabric remnants.

SFW is proud to have Mya-Rose Craig (AKA Birdgirl) on our team. Mya is - among many others things - a birder, race equality activist and environmental campaigner. In this blog post, Mya tells us about the need for intersectional environmentalism and offers valuable insight into the world of fast fashion - and what needs to change.

In 2019, the UK’s government was the first country to declare a climate emergency and legislate around it. This historic moment would not have happened if it were not for the school strikes and nation-wide extinction rebellion protests that happened earlier in the year. This just shows that if we want change, we need to act on it. Climate activism has never been so important.

In 2019, The Climate Change Act 2008 was amended and the government put in place a 100% target reduction in green-house-gas emissions by 2050; ‘net-zero’. However, according to recent research, the UK is not even on track to achieve our previous 80% target reduction. Can the government step it up in time to stop the climate emergency?

As sustainability becomes more ‘fashionable’, companies around the globe are jumping on the band wagon - but not always in a good way. Greenwashing has become an unfortunate phenomenon with many brands claiming eco-friendly resources and practises, whilst the reality is far from sustainable. It is high time the law changed to prevent greenwashing and put an end to the deceit from which many brands benefit.

Amber is the new member of our Partnerships Team, focusing on finding sponsors for the event and securing long-lasting partnerships. Currently studying a Masters in Environmental Law and Sustainable Development, Amber’s environmental ethos stems from her upbringing in the Welsh countryside. She now seeks to help the fashion industry become more sustainable, believing fiercely that change must come from the top.

There are many ways to become a #SFWPioneer, and in this blog we list just a few of the small resolutions you could adopt for the start of 2021. Whether you vow to learn to sew, or take up second-hand shopping, there are so many small steps you can take to tackle fast fashion and empower the sustainable fashion movement.

Fast fashion is having detrimental effects on people across the globe every day. The consequences of this system’s exploitation of people and planet are being see now - and this is not a problem that we can wait any longer to address. Donate to our Crowdfunder, become a #SFWPioneer and empower our community to fight fast fashion.

Sustainable Fashion Week is the first of its kind and was due to launch in April 2020, but now needs your help to raise £10,000. We're asking for your support to become a #SFWPioneer and launch Sustainable Fashion Week 2021 to the UK.