3things is a movement for global goodness. We believe if each of us take small positive steps, together we can make some big changes.
So whether you've got 3 minutes, 3 weeks or more, you can do 3things to change the world...
An initiative of Oxfam Australia.
Often our fashion sense has a flow-on effect that we don’t get to see. What are our clothes made of? Who makes them and under what conditions? Could we be making better choices- more eco or people-friendly choices?
These are the questions we’ve been asking ourselves lately, which is why we’ve declared August (and now due to popular demand- September) ‘Ethical Fashion Month’. Over the next 2 months, we’ll be exploring this notion- learning more about the issues behind the ‘ethics’ of fashion through everyone from worker’s rights advocates to outworkers themselves. We’ll be exploring just how much of an impact our fashion footprint is having on the planet and opening our thinking to designers/innovators/change makers who are challenging the ‘Fast Fashion’ culture of mass production, mass consumption, mass disposal and how we view fashion. In line with being more eco-conscious, we’ve stitched together some DIY mending tips, the top places to buy vintage in your city, simple ways to reduce the environmental impact of caring for your clothes, plus a DIY Clothes Swap Kit with a step-by-step guide to hosting your own swap- including everything from invitation ideas, swing tags, recipes and ideas for creating the ‘clothes swap mood’.
So we’re inviting you to join us on this journey, which we’re viewing as an opportunity to give our wardrobes the ultimate makeover. We’ll be continually uploading blogs, videos, tips, photos, downloadable patterns and all things that inspire us. So keep an eye on the website and (in time for the change of season) get ready to evolve your fashion sense.
Check out our 'Ethical Fashion Hub' for details and don't forget to have a squiz at the pics from our presence at the MCA's Clothing Exchange- a mass swap event inspired by the 18th Biennale of Sydney where we teamed up with the MCA to see some collaborative consumption in action.
Welcome to Ethical Fashion Month. For the month of August, this is where we’ll be exploring the flow-on effect of our fashion choices and what we could be doing to reduce our fashion footprint and increase the positive impact we’re having in the world through the choices we make about the clothes we buy, how we care for them and where they end up.
Throughout the month we’ll be continually uploading blogs, interviews, videos, tips, photos, downloadable kits & patterns, plus all things that inspire us. So keep an eye on this page and get ready to evolve your fashion sense.
Compassionate shopping made easy! If you’ve ever been daunted by the process of switching to all cruelty-free products, I’m telling you now is the best time to do so given the abundance of cruelty-free products on the market.
So, what exactly is cruelty free?
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The students at Canterbury Girls' Secondary College in Victoria didn't have to go far to find a bargain during their lunch break yesterday.
They had a great time hosting an Exchange For Change clothing swap at their school ...and the best part? Refreshing their wardrobes barely cost them a thing, helped raise awareness about ethical fashion choices and helped raise funds for Oxfam Australia.
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More than 30 companies have agreed to help improve conditions for workers in Bangladesh, but Cotton On, Kmart, Target and Big W are yet to sign on to the Bangladesh Fire and Safety Accord. Sign Oxfam's petition and tell these retailers that you care about the people who make your clothes!
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I signed the petition after a confronting photo from last months factory collapse in Bangladesh did the rounds on Facebook. I shared the picture on my profile and since then 36 of my friends have signed the petition as well. If you believe that the working conditions inside Bangladesh factories have to change, then you too can jump onto the Clean Clothes Campaign website and add your signature.
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If you want to ensure that you’re avoiding buying clothes made with sweatshop labour, a number of Australian companies are accredited with Ethical Clothing Australia and with Fairtrade. You can find lists of brands on their websites. But if you can’t find what you’re looking for, or what you need for work, then what?
Second hand, or op shopping, has long been a go-to option for thrifty and ethical shopping. You’re guaranteed a bargain at your local Vinnies, Salvos or Red Cross shop, or pay a little bit more for a real gem at one of many vintage stores, where you’re effectively paying for someone else to do the treasure hunting for you. This week, however, I decided to have a crack at second hand shopping online, on old faithful Gumtree.
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You may have read news articles about the recent factory collapse in Dhaka, Bangladesh, in which hundreds of garment workers died. It is important to ask: if consumers didn’t demand so much cheap clothing, would factory workers be working in such poor conditions?
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The fashion world is set to be captivated this coming weekend by the largest gathering of Indigenous designers and models ever to grace the runway and steal the show at this year’s L’Oreal Melbourne Fashion Festival.
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Ever pondered the story of your thongs? Where did the rubber come from? Who made them and what was that person paid?
If you've never stared at your feet long enough to ask these kinds of questions, a pair of eco-thongs is guaranteed to get you thinking because there's a story written on every sole. Literally.
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Our names are Imogen and Ella, we are 16 years old and are spending a week in the Oxfam Australia office doing work experience. We want to share our 3things, and hope to inspire you to take action as well. Here there are!
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Anyone in the mood for vegan friendly shoes? Most of you would know that a large amount of our shoes are made from chemically rich glues and require high petroleum consumption in order to be produced. But never fear! 3things have found another eco-friendly brand for you. YourEcoSteps has a range of comfy shoes that are recycled and stitched to the sole to avoid harmful glues. We were so happy with this brand that I couldn’t help but ask YourEcoSteps a few things for the 3things audience.
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The content on this site is produced by volunteers of Oxfam Australia's 3things movement and the general public. As such Oxfam Australia does not necessarily endorse the views expressed on this site.
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