In episode 296, Kestrel welcomes Kelly Drennan, the founder of Fashion Takes Action, to the show. A Canada-based non-profit, Fashion Takes Action works to remove barriers to sustainability through education, awareness, research and collaboration.
“We often talk about our school program, and just fashion is inherently cool, you know. And so, we’re able to really, through our school program, touch on some of these bigger, broader climate change issues, but through the lens of fashion, which for kids is relatable and cool. They get up every day and they put on clothes, but they don’t get up every day and drive a vehicle or pay the energy bills or go grocery shopping. So, for us, it’s just a really great way to reach them and we try to do it in a way that’s cool.” -Kelly
Have you looked into educational programs around fashion and sustainability? Or maybe you have completed a program focused on sustainability or fashion and sustainability?
The options out there are definitely growing in the higher education realm, but I think there is still a lot of work to do when it comes to ensuring the curriculum becomes more holistic and includes the root issues that have led to why we are where we are today.
But we are seeing changes at the higher education level, which is important. At the same time, what about kids? What about our youth?
When are they getting exposure to questions like:
Who made my clothes?
What are my clothes made out of?
What does a fashion supply chain look like?
I hear whispers from folks in my community that little projects connected to fashion and sustainability are sneaking their way into elementary and high school education through educators who care about it, but on a large scale, I rarely hear that our young people are getting access to learn about why what we wear matters, on so many levels.
This week’s guest developed a program back in 2014 to help teach youth about the impacts of fashion. While it was delivered in person by educators for several years, their workshops are now available online.
As she says –
“If we can reach these young people before they’re out there in the world buying things, then, maybe we have a better chance at changing that behavior.”
Quotes & links from the conversation:
“We realized early on — we weren’t just going to be working with industry, because if consumers (I hate that word, I know we all hate that word now), but if the general public wasn’t aware of the negative impacts of the industry and what sustainable alternatives there were, then they weren’t necessarily going to have access to sustainable designers. And so, we always felt that we needed to keep educating the general public, while at the same time, supporting the industry.” -Kelly (10:22)
My Clothes My World Program
WEAR Conference
Fashion Impacts 101 (RCGD Global x Fashion Takes Action Video Series)
Fashion Take’s Action Website >
Follow Kelly on Instagram >
Follow Fashion Takes Action on Instagram >
S05 Episode 222 | SELINA SANDERS ON UPCYCLING, HOW FASHION CREATES CULTURE + HOW HER PHILIPPINE HERITAGE INFLUENCES THE BRAND'S AESTHETIC
S05 Episode 221 | ROOPA PEMMARAJU ON HONORING ARTISANS + THE CRAFTSMANSHIP OF INDIA
S05 Episode 220 | CHANELLE HARRIS OF NELLO VINTAGE ON STYLE (SELF) OVER FASHION (CONFORMITY)
S05 Episode 219 | DR. KIMBERLY MCGLONN OF GRANT BLVD ON SHIFTING FRAMEWORKS, DISRUPTION, PLEASURE + PROTECTING YOUR OPTIMISM
S05 Episode 218 | MAYA PENN, THE POWER OF HOPE + WHAT THE MAINSTREAM IS MISSING WHEN IT COMES TO LISTENING TO YOUNG ACTIVISTS
S05 Episode 217 | ETHICAL STYLE JOURNAL, DEEPENING OUR UNDERSTANDING OF CULTURAL SUSTAINABILITY + INFORMATION VS KNOWLEDGE
S05 Episode 216 | KIDS WORLDWIDE, THE POWER OF GIVING BACK TO EACH OTHER + WHAT KIDS SAY ABOUT THE PLANET AND OUR FUTURE
S05 Episode 215 | NYLAH'S NATURALS, PLANT-BASED TECH + THE IMPACT OF CONVENTIONAL HAIRCARE PRODUCTS ON BLACK WOMEN
S05 Episode 214 | ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATOR ISAIAS HERNANDEZ OF QUEER BROWN VEGAN ON THE IMPORTANCE OF FINDING YOUR NICHE + CREATING BOUNDARIES
S05 Episode 213 | REZA CRISTIÁN OF SUSTAIN THE MAG ON THE FUTURE OF MEDIA, RESOURCEFULNESS + SHIFTING THE SUSTAINABILITY NARRATIVE
S05 Episode 212 | COMET CHUKURA, GLOW + THE WHITE GAZE IN SUSTAINABLE FASHION
S05 Episode 211 | DIANDRA MARIZET, INTERSECTIONAL ENVIRONMENTALIST + THE IMPORTANCE OF PERSPECTIVE EVOLUTION
S04 Episode 210 | THE ROOT | Episode 6 | The New Standard
S04 Episode 209 | THE ROOT | Episode 5 | Where Do We Go From Here?
S04 Episode 208 | THE ROOT | Episode 4 | The Future Of Fashion
S04 Episode 207 | THE ROOT | Episode 3 | Racism In The Fashion Industry
S04 Episode 206 | THE ROOT | Episode 2 | The Power Of Privilege
S04 Episode 205 | THE ROOT | Episode 1 | Racism As A System
S04 Episode 204 | KAMEA CHAYNE OF GREEN DREAMER PODCAST ON THE NEED TO DECOLONIZE "ENVIRONMENTAL CONSERVATION" + BUILD REGENERATIVE ACTIONS INTO OUR COLLECTIVE SUSTAINABILITY GOALS
S04 Episode 203 | MANPREET KAUR KALRA, THE WHITE-WASHING OF SOCIAL IMPACT + BUILDING INCLUSIVE BRAND NARRATIVES
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