Children today are exposed to a vast amount of information from various sources, including social media and interactions with others in school and everywhere. In these interactions, they are influenced by trends and ideals, such as fast fashion, which are not aligned with sustainable and ethical practices. Without proper education on sustainable fashion and its relationship with climate change, future generations may continue contributing to waste, overconsumption and pollution prevalent in the fashion industry. We need to address these issues to prevent adverse impacts of our consumption habits on future generations.
There’s no denying the impact greenwashing has on our children and the lack of knowledge that is plaguing their lives today. We cannot assume they are immune from the false marketing by fast fashion brands or that influencers paid by the fast fashion brands are not influencing them via their social media interactions. With education, our children will understand the need to redesign fashion and the entire value chain. Equipped with this knowledge, they will appreciate the importance of conscious consumption, the importance of policies and legislation aimed at regulating brands, etc. Education is critical, and now is the time to act.
Here are two ways our children can receive the education required to reverse the fast fashion junk marketing and programming influencing the next generation.
Sustainable Fashion in School Curriculum.
It is incumbent upon us to impart to the next generation an understanding of the value of sustainable fashion and the circular economy. We must empower future generations to make conscious decisions about their clothing choices. By providing education on sustainable fashion in schools, we can make students aware of the environmental and social impacts of the industry, including the loss of biodiversity in waterways, particularly in developing countries.
Incorporating into the school curriculum will provide students with not only the knowledge of fashion’s impacts on the environment and people but also the solutions – for instance, fair wages for fashion workers and promoting conscious consumption and disposal. Through education on the circular economy, we can inspire students to think beyond the traditional linear model of consumption and waste and to consider more circular models from sourcing to product’s end of life.Â
As part of an educational exercise, students could be asked to take inventory of their clothing and rank items based on the frequency of wear. This exercise will bring awareness to the issue of overconsumption and highlights the impact of unsustainable purchasing habits among parents. Additionally, educators can incorporate education on circular fashion practices, such as resale, repair, renting, swapping, and upcycling, into extra-curricular activities. While some schools have already included sustainable fashion in their curriculum, more institutions must prioritise this topic in their schools. It was a privilege last year to engage with students from an Aberdeenshire Academy on their sustainable fashion projects, and I’m looking forward to more schools doing the same.
Educational Social Media Content
Using existing social media platforms such as YouTube and TikTok to educate children on sustainable fashion may prove to be ineffective as these platforms often promote fast fashion. An alternative approach would be to utilise a dedicated platform designed explicitly for education on sustainability and the circular economy, using content created by and for young people. This platform could feature information on sustainable practices, manufacturing techniques, and environmentally friendly products and brands.
By providing an alternative platform dedicated to promoting sustainable fashion, we can shift the narrative away from fast fashion and towards more environmentally friendly options. It will also serve as a communication channel between sustainable fashion brands and the next generation, encouraging them to make more informed decisions in their daily lives. It may take time, but with this approach, the concept of greenwashing will become a thing of the past.
At Fillip, we are using video content and AI to educate consumers about sustainable and circular fashion and enable the discovery of sustainable fashion products and brands. We aim to educate consumers with the wealth of knowledge available in many sustainable businesses, fashion brands and designers’ video libraries to reduce overconsumption, waste and the impact of fast fashion on the environment.
In conclusion, the fashion revolution we are witnessing today may be short-lived if the next generation is not exposed to sustainable practices and circular business models earlier in schools. Education in any form, social platforms, marketplaces or formal education will ensure that the next generation is prepared to make the right decisions regarding sustainable production, distribution, consumption and waste.