Sustainable Fashion: A Handbook for Educators

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sustaInaBlE FashIon : a handBooK For Educators

suMMary

Fashioning an Ethical Industry developed this activity to
introduce students to some of the more commonly used
labels and initiatives relating to social and environmental
issues in the garment industry. In groups, participants
consider what an ethical label or initiative would mean to
them, match labels/logos to descriptions and consider if any
of the labels or initiatives presented match their ideas.

FacIlItators’ rolE

Facilitators move amongst the groups checking that
students understand the task and answering any questions.
Facilitators should instruct participants to move through
tasks on time, and facilitate the plenary discussion in
task 4. Facilitators are ideally familiar with the different
initiatives (suggested reading has been listed below).
Inevitably, questions will arise that the facilitator is unable
to answer. We suggest students follow up the workshop by
researching any unanswered questions.

MatErIals rEQuIrEd (proVIdEd)

• Instructions for participants


• Participants’ sheet: Descriptions of labels and initiatives


• Logos and labels (images)


• Facilitator’s sheet

EQuIpMEnt nEEdEd For Each group

• Scrap paper and pens


• One copy of the participants’ instruction sheet per pair


• One set of the six logos/initiatives images and one set of
  each logo/initiative description per group. These should
  be cut up in advance and placed in a sealed envelope
  and should not be opened until task 2.

laBEls and logos: InstructIons For partIcIpants

Task one: (5-10 minutes)

Within your group, divide into pairs. Imagine that you are

responsible for developing an ethical standard or initiative.

What would you want it to stand for? How would you

anticipate it being monitored and checked? Jot key words,

sentences or an image that represents your ideas.

Task two: (25 minutes)

Look at the various logos and descriptions in the envelope

on your table. Read each description in turn out loud and

as a group try and match the description to one of the

logos. When you have matched the descriptions with the

logos discuss some of the following questions:

• Is there anything about the logos or descriptions that
  surprises you?


• What do you feel are the positive elements of the
  various logos/initiatives?


• What are the limitations of the various initiatives in
  improving conditions for garment workers?


• What other information do you need in order to make
  this analysis?

Task three: (10 minutes)

Come back together in your pairs. Choose one of the

logos and discuss how the initiative does or does not meet

the ‘ideal’ standard you devised at the beginning of the

exercise.

Task four: (20 minutes)

Plenary feedback: The following questions could guide the

plenary discussion:

• Do you have any observations about the exercise?


• In what ways did your ideal scenario differ from the
  initiative you looked at?


• What did you learn?


• Do you have any questions?