Is Fast Fashion a Good Thing? | Trewin Restorick | TEDxYouth@Brum

thank you so one of the things I heard

thank you so one of the things I heard this morning is that there’s a very fine

this morning is that there’s a very fine

this morning is that there’s a very fine line between craziness and courage I’m a

line between craziness and courage I’m a

line between craziness and courage I’m a 55 year old badly dressed man talking to

55 year old badly dressed man talking to

55 year old badly dressed man talking to you today about fashion I think that

you today about fashion I think that

you today about fashion I think that puts me firmly in the bracket of courage

puts me firmly in the bracket of courage

puts me firmly in the bracket of courage so I’m going to start with a question to

so I’m going to start with a question to

so I’m going to start with a question to you all I’m sure many of you go sort of

you all I’m sure many of you go sort of

you all I’m sure many of you go sort of shopping at the weekends to Primark hmm

shopping at the weekends to Primark hmm

shopping at the weekends to Primark hmm you know Zara and you know you buy great

you know Zara and you know you buy great

you know Zara and you know you buy great fashionable clothing incredibly cheaply

fashionable clothing incredibly cheaply

fashionable clothing incredibly cheaply for wearing so the question I’m going to

for wearing so the question I’m going to

for wearing so the question I’m going to ask is this it’s fast fashion a good

ask is this it’s fast fashion a good

ask is this it’s fast fashion a good thing or not so I’d like to see a show

thing or not so I’d like to see a show

thing or not so I’d like to see a show of hands who here thinks that fast

of hands who here thinks that fast

of hands who here thinks that fast fashion is a good thing

fashion is a good thing

fashion is a good thing this was not what I was expecting

this was not what I was expecting

this was not what I was expecting who thinks it’s a bad thing that’s

who thinks it’s a bad thing that’s

who thinks it’s a bad thing that’s interesting because we’re addicted to

interesting because we’re addicted to

interesting because we’re addicted to fast fashion in fact people think that

fast fashion in fact people think that

fast fashion in fact people think that the number of clothes we we buy will

the number of clothes we we buy will

the number of clothes we we buy will grow by around 60% in the net by 2030

grow by around 60% in the net by 2030

grow by around 60% in the net by 2030 and what’s not to like about the

and what’s not to like about the

and what’s not to like about the industry it sells itself on style

industry it sells itself on style

industry it sells itself on style creativity beauty glamour it contributes

creativity beauty glamour it contributes

creativity beauty glamour it contributes and in almost twenty three billion

and in almost twenty three billion

and in almost twenty three billion pounds to the UK economy and it employs

pounds to the UK economy and it employs

pounds to the UK economy and it employs 800,000 people it’s a way of living for

800,000 people it’s a way of living for

800,000 people it’s a way of living for many of us and it’s something that’s

many of us and it’s something that’s

many of us and it’s something that’s part of our mainstream but sometimes

part of our mainstream but sometimes

part of our mainstream but sometimes courage is about questioning industries

courage is about questioning industries

courage is about questioning industries such as this sometimes courage is asking

such as this sometimes courage is asking

such as this sometimes courage is asking the questions the industries like this

the questions the industries like this

the questions the industries like this don’t want you to ask so let’s have a

don’t want you to ask so let’s have a

don’t want you to ask so let’s have a look at the flip side of the industry

look at the flip side of the industry

look at the flip side of the industry let’s have a think about what’s the

let’s have a think about what’s the

let’s have a think about what’s the social environmental impacts of getting

social environmental impacts of getting

social environmental impacts of getting these cheap clothes onto our high street

these cheap clothes onto our high street

these cheap clothes onto our high street and sometimes

and sometimes

and sometimes these implications are harsh in April

these implications are harsh in April

these implications are harsh in April 2013 the Rana Plaza factory in

2013 the Rana Plaza factory in

2013 the Rana Plaza factory in Bangladesh garment factory collapsed

Bangladesh garment factory collapsed

Bangladesh garment factory collapsed 1000 garment workers were were killed

1000 garment workers were were killed

1000 garment workers were were killed and two and a half thousand were injured

and two and a half thousand were injured

and two and a half thousand were injured they were making clothes that are ending

they were making clothes that are ending

they were making clothes that are ending up in our high street and unfortunately

up in our high street and unfortunately

up in our high street and unfortunately the situation hasn’t really improved

the situation hasn’t really improved

the situation hasn’t really improved since then in fact a recent survey found

since then in fact a recent survey found

since then in fact a recent survey found that 50% of garment workers are not paid

that 50% of garment workers are not paid

that 50% of garment workers are not paid the minimum wage and actually the

the minimum wage and actually the

the minimum wage and actually the discrimination against women garment

discrimination against women garment

discrimination against women garment workers is even higher and it’s not just

workers is even higher and it’s not just

workers is even higher and it’s not just the social impacts the fashion industry

the social impacts the fashion industry

the social impacts the fashion industry is believed to be the fourth most

is believed to be the fourth most

is believed to be the fourth most polluting industry in the world the

polluting industry in the world the

polluting industry in the world the fourth most polluting it creates carbon

fourth most polluting it creates carbon

fourth most polluting it creates carbon dioxide emissions carbon dioxide’s leads

dioxide emissions carbon dioxide’s leads

dioxide emissions carbon dioxide’s leads to climate change and we’ve seen what

to climate change and we’ve seen what

to climate change and we’ve seen what the horrific impacts of climate change

the horrific impacts of climate change

the horrific impacts of climate change can be through the recent storms in the

can be through the recent storms in the

can be through the recent storms in the Caribbean the Hurricanes in and America

Caribbean the Hurricanes in and America

Caribbean the Hurricanes in and America the amount of carbon that the industry

the amount of carbon that the industry

the amount of carbon that the industry will create in a year by 2030 will be

will create in a year by 2030 will be

will create in a year by 2030 will be the equivalent of driving 230 million

the equivalent of driving 230 million

the equivalent of driving 230 million cars on the road and it’s not just the

cars on the road and it’s not just the

cars on the road and it’s not just the carbon it creates it also creates a lot

carbon it creates it also creates a lot

carbon it creates it also creates a lot of waste

of waste

of waste so only 20% of the clothing though that

so only 20% of the clothing though that

so only 20% of the clothing though that we get through gets recycled much of the

we get through gets recycled much of the

we get through gets recycled much of the rest is dumped into African markets that

rest is dumped into African markets that

rest is dumped into African markets that harms their economy and it stops any

harms their economy and it stops any

harms their economy and it stops any chance of them developing their own

chance of them developing their own

chance of them developing their own industries because it’s clothing that’s

industries because it’s clothing that’s

industries because it’s clothing that’s just dumped on them so my contention is

just dumped on them so my contention is

just dumped on them so my contention is that the environmental and social damage

that the environmental and social damage

that the environmental and social damage that this industry is causing is quite

that this industry is causing is quite

that this industry is causing is quite significant so the questions got to be

significant so the questions got to be

significant so the questions got to be is it worth it so the average woman in

is it worth it so the average woman in

is it worth it so the average woman in the UK spends 768 pounds a year on

the UK spends 768 pounds a year on

the UK spends 768 pounds a year on clothing that’s around sixty four pounds

clothing that’s around sixty four pounds

clothing that’s around sixty four pounds a month most bits of clothing are only

a month most bits of clothing are only

a month most bits of clothing are only won seven times and then they’re not

won seven times and then they’re not

won seven times and then they’re not worn again in fact somebody recently

worn again in fact somebody recently

worn again in fact somebody recently worked out that there’s 30 billion

worked out that there’s 30 billion

worked out that there’s 30 billion pounds worth of clothing 30 billion

pounds worth of clothing 30 billion

pounds worth of clothing 30 billion pounds of clothing sitting in our

pounds of clothing sitting in our

pounds of clothing sitting in our wardrobes that has

wardrobes that has

wardrobes that has being bought worn for a year so does

being bought worn for a year so does

being bought worn for a year so does buying this stuff make us happier

buying this stuff make us happier

buying this stuff make us happier well survey after survey after survey

well survey after survey after survey

well survey after survey after survey suggests we’re scratching an itch but

suggests we’re scratching an itch but

suggests we’re scratching an itch but it’s not improving our happiness in fact

it’s not improving our happiness in fact

it’s not improving our happiness in fact there was a recent survey in the US

there was a recent survey in the US

there was a recent survey in the US which found that 1 in 10 women when they

which found that 1 in 10 women when they

which found that 1 in 10 women when they opened their wardrobe actually feel more

opened their wardrobe actually feel more

opened their wardrobe actually feel more depressed when they look at their

depressed when they look at their

depressed when they look at their clothes because they don’t think they’re

clothes because they don’t think they’re

clothes because they don’t think they’re sufficiently fashionable so what I’ve

sufficiently fashionable so what I’ve

sufficiently fashionable so what I’ve been doing in the past 3 years with the

been doing in the past 3 years with the

been doing in the past 3 years with the new charity I’ve created it’s trying to

new charity I’ve created it’s trying to

new charity I’ve created it’s trying to question the industry and to find

question the industry and to find

question the industry and to find alternatives but I don’t want to be doom

alternatives but I don’t want to be doom

alternatives but I don’t want to be doom and gloom about it I don’t say you can’t

and gloom about it I don’t say you can’t

and gloom about it I don’t say you can’t buy this you shouldn’t do this we all

buy this you shouldn’t do this we all

buy this you shouldn’t do this we all deserve a fulfilling enriched lives but

deserve a fulfilling enriched lives but

deserve a fulfilling enriched lives but can we do it in a way which doesn’t

can we do it in a way which doesn’t

can we do it in a way which doesn’t trash the environment and what’s amazed

trash the environment and what’s amazed

trash the environment and what’s amazed me is that if you go out there with a

me is that if you go out there with a

me is that if you go out there with a bold statement if you go and challenge

bold statement if you go and challenge

bold statement if you go and challenge the norm but if you do it in a really

the norm but if you do it in a really

the norm but if you do it in a really positive way you can build an amazing

positive way you can build an amazing

positive way you can build an amazing organization so I’ve been running hubbub

organization so I’ve been running hubbub

organization so I’ve been running hubbub for 3 years I started with 25,000 pounds

for 3 years I started with 25,000 pounds

for 3 years I started with 25,000 pounds this year the organization’s had a

this year the organization’s had a

this year the organization’s had a turnover of one and a half million

turnover of one and a half million

turnover of one and a half million pounds purely because we have a set of

pounds purely because we have a set of

pounds purely because we have a set of principles that go out to challenge the

principles that go out to challenge the

principles that go out to challenge the norm and on fashion I think there’s

norm and on fashion I think there’s

norm and on fashion I think there’s something that all of us can do when we

something that all of us can do when we

something that all of us can do when we go shopping and in our everyday lives

go shopping and in our everyday lives

go shopping and in our everyday lives that will change the normal will

that will change the normal will

that will change the normal will challenge this industry and that might

challenge this industry and that might

challenge this industry and that might be a courageous thing to do on a very

be a courageous thing to do on a very

be a courageous thing to do on a very small scale but I think it’s an

small scale but I think it’s an

small scale but I think it’s an important thing to do so I’ve got five

important thing to do so I’ve got five

important thing to do so I’ve got five ideas for how we can start to challenge

ideas for how we can start to challenge

ideas for how we can start to challenge the fast fashion industry the first one

the fast fashion industry the first one

the fast fashion industry the first one is to pause before you buy anything do

is to pause before you buy anything do

is to pause before you buy anything do you really need that piece of clothing

you really need that piece of clothing

you really need that piece of clothing is it something that is going to really

is it something that is going to really

is it something that is going to really enrich your lives and what’s what’s the

enrich your lives and what’s what’s the

enrich your lives and what’s what’s the backstory to that it’s better clothing

backstory to that it’s better clothing

backstory to that it’s better clothing and this was done brilliantly in Berlin

and this was done brilliantly in Berlin

and this was done brilliantly in Berlin this is a picture of a vending machine

this is a picture of a vending machine

this is a picture of a vending machine in Berlin and it says have a t-shirt

in Berlin and it says have a t-shirt

in Berlin and it says have a t-shirt there are only two euros lovely white

there are only two euros lovely white

there are only two euros lovely white t-shirt two euros put the money into the

t-shirt two euros put the money into the

t-shirt two euros put the money into the vending machine and then if you do that

vending machine and then if you do that

vending machine and then if you do that it says oh hi a minute just watch this

it says oh hi a minute just watch this

it says oh hi a minute just watch this film and the film tells the backstory

film and the film tells the backstory

film and the film tells the backstory behind it of the t-shirt that was made

behind it of the t-shirt that was made

behind it of the t-shirt that was made in Bangladesh the working conditions and

in Bangladesh the working conditions and

in Bangladesh the working conditions and you know the amount of chemicals and

you know the amount of chemicals and

you know the amount of chemicals and water that was used to create that

water that was used to create that

water that was used to create that t-shirt and then it says do you really

t-shirt and then it says do you really

t-shirt and then it says do you really want to buy the t-shirt and it’s amazing

want to buy the t-shirt and it’s amazing

want to buy the t-shirt and it’s amazing the number of people who decided to

the number of people who decided to

the number of people who decided to need their 2 euros to helping the

need their 2 euros to helping the

need their 2 euros to helping the garment workers rather than to buy the

garment workers rather than to buy the

garment workers rather than to buy the t-shirt it’s a great way of pausing and

t-shirt it’s a great way of pausing and

t-shirt it’s a great way of pausing and getting people to think before they buy

getting people to think before they buy

getting people to think before they buy the second thing I think we should do is

the second thing I think we should do is

the second thing I think we should do is challenge so there’s this thing called

challenge so there’s this thing called

challenge so there’s this thing called Black Friday which has been dumped onto

Black Friday which has been dumped onto

Black Friday which has been dumped onto the UK economy from the US which

the UK economy from the US which

the UK economy from the US which basically encouraged us to spend money

basically encouraged us to spend money

basically encouraged us to spend money we don’t have on stuff we don’t want so

we don’t have on stuff we don’t want so

we don’t have on stuff we don’t want so we went to a whole lot of universities

we went to a whole lot of universities

we went to a whole lot of universities and said let’s challenge Black Friday

and said let’s challenge Black Friday

and said let’s challenge Black Friday let’s have bright Friday let’s do

let’s have bright Friday let’s do

let’s have bright Friday let’s do everything we possibly can to enjoy our

everything we possibly can to enjoy our

everything we possibly can to enjoy our lives volunteering meeting with friends

lives volunteering meeting with friends

lives volunteering meeting with friends other than going having a fight over

other than going having a fight over

other than going having a fight over t-shirt in Primark and we’ve got

t-shirt in Primark and we’ve got

t-shirt in Primark and we’ve got students to create a magazine which

students to create a magazine which

students to create a magazine which basically shown the lights and the

basically shown the lights and the

basically shown the lights and the absurdity of some of the things that the

absurdity of some of the things that the

absurdity of some of the things that the fashion magazines are selling us so you

fashion magazines are selling us so you

fashion magazines are selling us so you know can you buy happiness no you can’t

know can you buy happiness no you can’t

know can you buy happiness no you can’t and we got them to come up with loads of

and we got them to come up with loads of

and we got them to come up with loads of brilliant ideas about things that might

brilliant ideas about things that might

brilliant ideas about things that might happen if the fashion industry gets

happen if the fashion industry gets

happen if the fashion industry gets faster and faster and faster so the one

faster and faster and faster so the one

faster and faster and faster so the one I liked best was a new company called

I liked best was a new company called

I liked best was a new company called deliver shoe which basically delivers

deliver shoe which basically delivers

deliver shoe which basically delivers you shoes whenever you want them and you

you shoes whenever you want them and you

you shoes whenever you want them and you know this could be a whole new way of

know this could be a whole new way of

know this could be a whole new way of taking fast fashion to an extreme level

taking fast fashion to an extreme level

taking fast fashion to an extreme level so the second thing is challenge the

so the second thing is challenge the

so the second thing is challenge the industry the third thing is is gain new

industry the third thing is is gain new

industry the third thing is is gain new skills regain lost skills you know

skills regain lost skills you know

skills regain lost skills you know clothing can be up cycled it can be

clothing can be up cycled it can be

clothing can be up cycled it can be personalized it can be made to look

personalized it can be made to look

personalized it can be made to look fantastic you just have to learn some

fantastic you just have to learn some

fantastic you just have to learn some new skills to do that so you know we

new skills to do that so you know we

new skills to do that so you know we want increasing number of workshops

want increasing number of workshops

want increasing number of workshops about upskilling and re-skilling

about upskilling and re-skilling

about upskilling and re-skilling bringing mainly women together to learn

bringing mainly women together to learn

bringing mainly women together to learn new skills that makes their clothing go

new skills that makes their clothing go

new skills that makes their clothing go further and then they’re sharing you

further and then they’re sharing you

further and then they’re sharing you know there’s lots of events called

know there’s lots of events called

know there’s lots of events called swishing or sharing where basically you

swishing or sharing where basically you

swishing or sharing where basically you can recycle or move around clothes that

can recycle or move around clothes that

can recycle or move around clothes that you perhaps no longer want but somebody

you perhaps no longer want but somebody

you perhaps no longer want but somebody else might find it really interesting

else might find it really interesting

else might find it really interesting we’re doing a campaign at Halloween

we’re doing a campaign at Halloween

we’re doing a campaign at Halloween called so spooky scw spooky which is

called so spooky scw spooky which is

called so spooky scw spooky which is about halloween outfit so run buying a

about halloween outfit so run buying a

about halloween outfit so run buying a Halloween outfit

Halloween outfit

Halloween outfit why not swap and share what’s what other

why not swap and share what’s what other

why not swap and share what’s what other people have got saving you money and

people have got saving you money and

people have got saving you money and saving the environment and we’ve run a

saving the environment and we’ve run a

saving the environment and we’ve run a campaign with Mothercare called gift a

campaign with Mothercare called gift a

campaign with Mothercare called gift a bundle where we get mums together who’ve

bundle where we get mums together who’ve

bundle where we get mums together who’ve got beautiful outgrow

got beautiful outgrow

got beautiful outgrow baby clothing in their wardrobes they

baby clothing in their wardrobes they

baby clothing in their wardrobes they get together with other mums they create

get together with other mums they create

get together with other mums they create beautiful gift bags they take them to

beautiful gift bags they take them to

beautiful gift bags they take them to mother care and then at Mother’s Day

mother care and then at Mother’s Day

mother care and then at Mother’s Day they become a gift from a mother to

they become a gift from a mother to

they become a gift from a mother to another handing out to those families

another handing out to those families

another handing out to those families who need those clothes more so sharing

who need those clothes more so sharing

who need those clothes more so sharing is a really important part of the

is a really important part of the

is a really important part of the circular economy and finally make the

circular economy and finally make the

circular economy and finally make the most of your money big business is

most of your money big business is

most of your money big business is actually starting to move in the right

actually starting to move in the right

actually starting to move in the right direction so this is a dress from H&M

direction so this is a dress from H&M

direction so this is a dress from H&M can anybody guess what it’s made of it’s

can anybody guess what it’s made of it’s

can anybody guess what it’s made of it’s recycled ocean plastic they fished

recycled ocean plastic they fished

recycled ocean plastic they fished plastics from the ocean and they created

plastics from the ocean and they created

plastics from the ocean and they created this amazing dress they spend millions

this amazing dress they spend millions

this amazing dress they spend millions every year looking at what are the

every year looking at what are the

every year looking at what are the materials that we’re going to be wearing

materials that we’re going to be wearing

materials that we’re going to be wearing in the future so they’ve got some

in the future so they’ve got some

in the future so they’ve got some material they’re making out of citrus

material they’re making out of citrus

material they’re making out of citrus peel lemon and orange peel it actually

peel lemon and orange peel it actually

peel lemon and orange peel it actually makes a beautiful material so they’re

makes a beautiful material so they’re

makes a beautiful material so they’re looking at ways to find new materials

looking at ways to find new materials

looking at ways to find new materials which are not so environmentally

which are not so environmentally

which are not so environmentally damaging they’re also hmm

damaging they’re also hmm

damaging they’re also hmm the biggest spender in the world on

the biggest spender in the world on

the biggest spender in the world on organic cotton so there are certain

organic cotton so there are certain

organic cotton so there are certain companies and I could name a few others

companies and I could name a few others

companies and I could name a few others in the fast fashion industry that are

in the fast fashion industry that are

in the fast fashion industry that are making the right steps and I think when

making the right steps and I think when

making the right steps and I think when you do go and you spend your money think

you do go and you spend your money think

you do go and you spend your money think about where that money can be spent this

about where that money can be spent this

about where that money can be spent this sends a really strong message to the

sends a really strong message to the

sends a really strong message to the fashion industry that that people do

fashion industry that that people do

fashion industry that that people do care about this and this is important

care about this and this is important

care about this and this is important for sort of the future of our

for sort of the future of our

for sort of the future of our environment and also for the well-being

environment and also for the well-being

environment and also for the well-being of garment makers across the world so I

of garment makers across the world so I

of garment makers across the world so I was going to ask have you changed your

was going to ask have you changed your

was going to ask have you changed your mind but I hadn’t got a lot to go on

mind but I hadn’t got a lot to go on

mind but I hadn’t got a lot to go on because basically all of you were

because basically all of you were

because basically all of you were agreeing with in the first place but

agreeing with in the first place but

agreeing with in the first place but what I hope is that what I’ve shown you

what I hope is that what I’ve shown you

what I hope is that what I’ve shown you is that there is a different way to

is that there is a different way to

is that there is a different way to think about fashion that we need to

think about fashion that we need to

think about fashion that we need to think about the environmental and social

think about the environmental and social

think about the environmental and social impacts of the fashion industry that

impacts of the fashion industry that

impacts of the fashion industry that sometimes it takes courage to question

sometimes it takes courage to question

sometimes it takes courage to question the mainstream but it also takes courage

the mainstream but it also takes courage

the mainstream but it also takes courage on a very small step to think about

on a very small step to think about

on a very small step to think about daily habits daily routines shopping

daily habits daily routines shopping

daily habits daily routines shopping patterns things you do in your everyday

patterns things you do in your everyday

patterns things you do in your everyday life so courage can be at a very small

life so courage can be at a very small

life so courage can be at a very small level but if we all do it together many

level but if we all do it together many

level but if we all do it together many of us it will send a stark message which

of us it will send a stark message which

of us it will send a stark message which can transform a bigger industry thank

can transform a bigger industry thank

can transform a bigger industry thank you

you

you [Applause]