Fashion Revolution/Space Between pre-launch
vimeo.com
Fashion Revolution is a global coalition across 60 countries comprising designers, academics, writers, business leaders and parliamentarians calling for systemic reform of the fashion supply chain. (http://fashionrevolution.org/get-involved/countries/). Space Between started as it means to go on, which means doing things differently to conventional practices for showing, making and engaging with fashion. Instead of showing in a semi-private catwalk show we wanted to bring fashion to the street to engage with the public. We believe fashion happens everywhere and everyone has the right to be involved. We also wanted to raise awareness of the relevant issues and create a dialogue with the general public- not just the converted.
We had approx. 30 people participate in our flashmob who consisted of a cross section of society - all ages (babies- to grandmothers) all genders, all body types. It was important for us to gather together the people who have been instrumental to our initiative. This included the makers of our upcycled collection of corporate uniform waste to the potential wearers. Our 'action' was a simply executed performance that sought to demonstrate the low regard for clothing in contemporary society and the harmful effects of the fashion/textile industry.
Although the subject matter/focus of the event had a serious message, it was preformed with a great sense of collaboration, improvisation, and humour.
Space Between's official launch in the form of a flash mob was organized at Wellington's Midland Park on 24 April 2015, to coincide with the second anniversary of the Rana Plaza collapse in Bangladesh, now known internationally as Fashion Revolution Day/Week. We launched with a public event in the form of a Flash Mob to raise awareness of the issues in the fashion industry which include the inherent waste in the fashion system and the human rights issues in the supply chain which is part of the objective of Fashion Revolution Week. The flash mob was co-designed a mass collaboration pilot event which attempted to disrupt the conventional manner of showing, making and engaging with fashion. Instead of showing in a semi-private catwalk show we brought fashion to the street to engage with the public as we believe that fashion happens everywhere and everyone has the right to be involved. Approx. 30 people participated in our flashmob who consisted of a cross section of society—all ages (babies to grandmothers) all genders, all body types. We celebrated the makers of our clothing and brought together the people who have been instrumental to our initiative. This included the makers of our upcycled collection of corporate uniform waste to the potential wearers.
Our 'action' was a simply executed performance in a public square in the central business district of Wellington city during a busy lunch hour. It sought to demonstrate the low regard for clothing in contemporary society and the harmful effects of the fashion/textile industry through clothing, performance and sound. On the cue of a soundtrack which emulated the sounds of consumption and the fast pace of our consumer culture our participants entered into the public square from different vantage points of the square. They proceeded to slowly remove their clothing and cast them off in all directions across the square causing a flurry of activity and clothes flying in all directions in a public space.
Film:
Nathan Moon Foon and Kenneth Chapman.
Flashmobbers:
Alana Cooper, Annie Bretherton, Ana Trenwith- Haberfield, Barend De la Beer, Gerrie de la Beer ,Carrie Ní Loinsigh, Chris Montgomerie, Greta Œgor, Julie Fitzgerald, Julie Lintern, Jennnifer Whitty, Jeannette Troon,Kate Chalmers, Larissa Banks, Mary Laine, Metu Teitiga, Natalie Lamblet, Sarai Beckmann and baby Greta, Scotty Laing, Sheena Tanoa, Shirley Cressy, Patricia Given, Tasha Maree Dangerfield Smith, and Tony Kennedy.
Models/helpers:
Rebecca Lockhart, Shaun Seebaluck, Laura Deans, Tory Leeming, Larissa Marno and Cathal Lennon.
Soundtrack:
Manahi Ngaia