Ruth I'm so pleased that you're on this course. I'm also super interested in how de-growth models can create a more equitable and sustainable system for consumer business. It's something I feel strongly about, but with the industry not only linear, but also within a traditional capitalist economic model, I struggle to see how we will encourage this change. I would love to discuss with you at some point and look forward to reading more of your learnings and thoughts on the subject.
What a cool program you're studying on degrowth! Sounds indeed both fascinating and overwhelming, knowing that anything systems change is, as you've said, a "wicked" problem.
Fashion especially!! I so appreciate you including that Extraction Fashion report on the material footprint of the fashion industry. I hate that I'm not surprised with the results of unequal exchange, labor, resource exraction, land use. It is undeniably a very unjust industry.
The secondhand clothing exports to African countries like Ghana are also a double edged sword. On one hand, it does supply those communities with a crucial economy many of them are dependent upon - but the fact that they are dependent upon our exports is problematic. And of course, it all ties to colonialism. African countries had their own thriving apparel industries pre-colonial era, using traditional textile methods and their own cotton agriculture to support it in a way that worked well for them. Then, colonial powers took control of their agriculture and services and used it for their own benefit. Which led to a loss of an independent and culturally significant apparel industry, and excaberated the dependence upon Global North. Sigh.
I am really excited for the rest of your masters though, i hope you learn so much and find potential levers for change!
Thank goodness you are sharing your thoughts publicly again Ruth! So articulately written and great food for thought on this dense topic. Please do keep writing more. 💪
Hi Ruth, love your words. In 2010, motivated by the same as you, i started Buy Nothing New Month the global campaign for conscious consumption. It has been going for 16 years. We've had a strong media presence to start conversations around what we buy, where, why and what are the alternatives. https://www.buynothingnew.com.au/ Here's a short film by The New Joneses, an Australian content series on how we can live for the health and wellbeing of our people, planet, pets and pockets. https://thenewjoneses.com/tamara-dimattina-shop-less-buy-nothing-new
Ruth I'm so pleased that you're on this course. I'm also super interested in how de-growth models can create a more equitable and sustainable system for consumer business. It's something I feel strongly about, but with the industry not only linear, but also within a traditional capitalist economic model, I struggle to see how we will encourage this change. I would love to discuss with you at some point and look forward to reading more of your learnings and thoughts on the subject.
Thank you for reading and engaging! I would love to chat about this more with you.
First of all, the course you’re on sounds fascinating (I’m very jealous!!)!
I’m definitely going to read up on that report. Degrowth has to be the future of fashion and so it’s such a joy to see people talking about it 🌍🤍
Thank you Chloe! Its now accepting applications for next year if you’re interested….
What a cool program you're studying on degrowth! Sounds indeed both fascinating and overwhelming, knowing that anything systems change is, as you've said, a "wicked" problem.
Fashion especially!! I so appreciate you including that Extraction Fashion report on the material footprint of the fashion industry. I hate that I'm not surprised with the results of unequal exchange, labor, resource exraction, land use. It is undeniably a very unjust industry.
The secondhand clothing exports to African countries like Ghana are also a double edged sword. On one hand, it does supply those communities with a crucial economy many of them are dependent upon - but the fact that they are dependent upon our exports is problematic. And of course, it all ties to colonialism. African countries had their own thriving apparel industries pre-colonial era, using traditional textile methods and their own cotton agriculture to support it in a way that worked well for them. Then, colonial powers took control of their agriculture and services and used it for their own benefit. Which led to a loss of an independent and culturally significant apparel industry, and excaberated the dependence upon Global North. Sigh.
I am really excited for the rest of your masters though, i hope you learn so much and find potential levers for change!
Thank you so much for taking the time to read and comment! I share your sigh 🙏
Thank goodness you are sharing your thoughts publicly again Ruth! So articulately written and great food for thought on this dense topic. Please do keep writing more. 💪
Thank you so much Rachel that means a lot 🙏🩷
Hi Ruth, love your words. In 2010, motivated by the same as you, i started Buy Nothing New Month the global campaign for conscious consumption. It has been going for 16 years. We've had a strong media presence to start conversations around what we buy, where, why and what are the alternatives. https://www.buynothingnew.com.au/ Here's a short film by The New Joneses, an Australian content series on how we can live for the health and wellbeing of our people, planet, pets and pockets. https://thenewjoneses.com/tamara-dimattina-shop-less-buy-nothing-new
Thank you Tamara, sounds like a wonderful project 🙌