This year we are called to listen to the cry of creation and one aspect of this is the cry of the poor. The poor whose voices are ignored or not heard at all. It is the poor who suffer most from the impacts of the Climate Crisis and related issues, an example of which is Fast Fashion.

The Laudato Si Social Justice Action Group have chosen Fast Fashion as an issue to create awareness about during our Season of Creation. It is a problem that we all contribute to and the students who are members of this group identified it as particularly relevant for them. Fast Fashion is a serious problem globally and in Australia. We, as consumers in a materialistic, throwaway society, are buying more fashion items than ever before. These items are not worn for as long, if at all, and then disposed of or donated to charity. Even when we assume that these donated items end up in a good place for someone in need, they most likely will end up in landfill. Our charities cannot process all the clothes donated so much of it ends up either in our landfill or is sent overseas to poor nations such as Ghana.

Australians donate 310,000 tonnes of clothing to charities every year. Many of these clothes are sold to raise $527 million for the funding of social welfare programs. But one-third of these clothes can’t be sold in local op shops. Instead, they are shipped overseas. Charities sell them to Australian exporters for around 50 cents a kilogram. They’re then exported to Malaysia, Pakistan and the UAE for sorting into bales based on their market segment, for example “men’s shirts” or “women’s jackets”. Those bales are then sold to importers in Eastern Europe, the Pacific and Africa. Once these garments arrive in those markets, many end up in landfill.

The ABC Foreign Correspondent investigated in 2021 how the issue of Fast Fashion was impacting the poor in Ghana. They discovered what is now called “Dead White Man’s Island” and people who felt that they had been “dehumanised” as a result of the shipping of poor quality fast fashion that is very difficult to sell. This is the voice of the poor that we must listen to and respond to as we, as Catholics, follow Social Justice Teachings including that of the Dignity of the Human Person. According to Catholic tradition, every human person, made in the image and likeness of God, is equal in worth and dignity along with every other human person, and is precious in the eyes of God. As such, we must endeavour to change our habits and slow down our purchase of fashion items.

In Pastoral classes, we have begun to raise awareness of this issue as part of the Season of Creation. Students have been encouraged to donate unwanted fashion items that are in good condition. We have begun selling these items for a small amount during recess and lunchtimes. All money raised will be donated to the St Vincent de Paul Society.

From next week, students will be encouraged to adopt more sustainable practices in relation to this issue. We will continue to accept donations and sell these on various days until the end of Term 3.

Louise Barry - Religious Studies Coordinator