Aaaaand I’m back
My poor, neglected blog…I went on vacation, came back and forgot that I really enjoy working on this blog- similar to the way I sometimes forget that I enjoy being outside my apartment, or eating vegetables. Then I log on/leave the house/eat a pear…and think, This is AWESOME! I should do this ALL THE TIME!
Moving on.
Last Friday, the thoroughly amazing organization where I volunteer here in Madrid held an event that re-energized and inspired me. Setem does international solidarity and fair trade work, and plays a big role in the European Clean Clothes Campaign. The project I am helping out with currently reaches out to Spanish fashion design students to educate them about the abuses of the fashion industry and provide them with options in fair trade production and environmentally aware materials. The idea is to change the industry starting with the next generation of designers, and this is basically the first campaign of its kind in Spain. While other European countries (especially the UK) have a higher awareness about sweatshops, fair trade and sustainability in fashion, these issues are just beginning to enter the discourse here.
The event consisted of two simultaneous workshops, one for fashion professors and one for students. For me, the highlight of the student workshop was getting to talk with Nieves Ruíz, the Spanish designer behind fair trade line Bibico. Bibico is made up of simple, gorgeous pieces made in collectives in India and Nepal.
Ruíz talked about choosing to leave the mainstream design world (she used to work for Zara), and seeking out ethical manufacturing alternatives for her own line. Hearing her stories about staying with collective worker families and work through the design process with them was fascinating, and made me feel like for people who are motivated enough to find them, there are radically different and exciting options.
