The Manifesto

Planetary systems are under threat. Fashion, clothing products and production processes are actively contributing to the destruction of these systems. They also contribute to the increasing disconnection between humans and Earth.

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The fashion sector has sought to respond to this intensifying ecological crisis in a range of different ways. However, we, the Union of Concerned Researchers in Fashion (UCRF), recognise that the response has been, and continues to be, inadequate.

To date, the dominant response in the sector has been over-simplified and fragmented. It has been obstructed by the growth-at-any-cost business models that are predominantly practiced. Growth is a natural process of life, but growth-at-any-cost suggests expanding exponentially with little consideration for, or even at the cost of, people and planet. If growth continues to be the obsession, ecosystem impacts will never be reversed.

The fashion sector’s actions are often over-simplified because they are based on uncritical and subjective research findings and research duplications. This leads to misuse and manipulation of information and knowledge for the purpose of growth-at-any-cost logic.

It is our view that anyone concerned with fashion and clothing can no longer remain uninvolved or complacent. We, as a collective of concerned stakeholders, need to conduct ourselves in new ways. We call on global fashion researchers and practitioners to unite for action and leadership in addressing the core issues of the intensifying ecological and social crises. For us this action requires both that something fundamental is disrupted and something significantly different is offered.

We are committed to examining, developing and accelerating the uptake of diverse ‘other ways’ in the fashion sector.

The Union of Concerned Researchers proposes to:

#01

Create an Activist Knowledge Ecology

Create an ‘activist knowledge ecology’, that is, to develop a system of knowledge about fashion sustainability geared towards taking action and fostering authentic change.

SEE THIS WORK IN ACTION:
Wikipedia editathon; Reading group

#02

Advocate for Systems Change

Advocate for whole systems and paradigm change, beyond current norms and business-as-usual. This includes rejecting the status quo which maintains economic, legislative and policy frameworks that prioritize profits at the cost of people and planet.

SEE THIS WORK IN ACTION:
In the news

#03

Prioritise Diverse Voices

Diversify the voices, perspectives, values, beliefs and methods within fashion and sustainability discourse to include the Global South and Indigenous communities beyond the dominant Global North.

SEE THIS WORK IN ACTION:
Local Assemblies, Member of the month

#04

Express Determined Opposition

Express our determined opposition to ill-advised and destructive fashion projects. We use our Code of Conduct to guide our actions.

SEE THIS WORK IN ACTION:
Policies and Social Change group

#05

Formulate Visions

Formulate visions—and corresponding research practices—that allow for the enacting of new relationships between humans and Earth in the context of fashion.

#06

Lead Debate

Take a leadership role in debating existing and new ideas while creating action around fashion-sustainability themes, especially in areas where the generation of new knowledge is critical.

SEE THIS WORK IN ACTION:
Questions, Letters, addendums and statements

#07

Research Root Causes

Devise means for turning projects and research enquiries towards the underlying root causes of pressing environmental and social problems, including but not limited to climate change, wealth inequality, biodiversity loss, and plastic pollution.