More and more of us are becoming aware of the fashion industry's environmental impact - from the huge amounts of chemicals entering water supplies to the 60% of clothing items being thrown away within their first year of life. We know this and yet do we really understand what this means? How can we understand the impact of our actions as individuals?
A new exhibition by Local Projects seeks to make these things much more comprehensive. They are the creators behind the 9/11 museum in New York, and tackle issues of wastage, pollution and mass-production through an interactive space in the new Fashion for Good museum in central Amsterdam. With the help of technology and experiential exhibits, visitors can learn how to reform their own buying habits and come to understand the scale of their own personal responsibility.
Far from having an atmosphere of "doom and gloom", the Fashion for Good museum explores alternative options and positive action. The inclusion of an ‘Innovation Lounge’, where visitors can learn about sustainable developments and projects in the fashion industry, presents the viewer with a glimpse into the future of fashion. We are invited into a world where science and technology can provide solutions to the problems of limited resources, environmental degradation and a lack of supply transparency. However, at the same time, we are asked to consider ways in which our own actions might currently be contributing to the current problems associated with "fast fashion".
Visit the world's first museum of sustainable fashion in Amsterdam, free of charge.
Rokin 102, 1012 KZ Amsterdam, The Netherlands
Blog post by Jessica Edney