Next week, an unusual fashion show will give students the opportunity to learn more about where their clothes come from and how they can make ethical choices in their purchases.
WearFair will take place April 2 to 4 in the Lower Ceilidh of the JDUC.
Sharon Mok, Katie Cibrowski, Jen Morden and Jodie Lo, all members of Make Poverty History, are organizing the event.
“I think a lot of people care about these issues but there’s a definite disconnect between caring about the issues and actually doing something about the issue,” said Mok, adding that changing the way students think about consumerism is important.
She said ethically made clothing is more accessible than it used to be.
“This industry is so large now, which is what we’re trying to prove with WearFair,” she said.
“[Queen’s students] spend $120, or $300 on a pair of boots, or $300 in jeans—that’s common. I find it surprising how students say it’s more expensive. A lot of these stores try not to mark up too much.” Cibrowski, ArtSci ’08, said one of the problems is that students who want to buy ethically often don’t have information in making a decision. “For example, there is no actual certified sweat-free clothing, no knowledge about that out there, so we wanted to inform people about when they’re buying something labeled sweat-free, what does that mean?” she said.
“We’re bringing the information and clothing to students—present it to them in a way that they can use whatever part of the information that they want,” Cibrowski said.
The concept of ethical clothing is more nuanced than people think and can encompass everything from the materials used to the factory where it’s made and the retailer where it’s sold.
“Clothing lines that try to tackle all of these different angles are rare, and you would be very limited in the type of clothing you could wear,” she said.
Cibrowski said there will be people at the fair to give information and answer questions.
The organizers also want to have a chart so that people will be able to look at what they’re wearing and see what is associated with their clothing.
“There is a lot out there, and that’s what we want people to know.”
The event will feature a raffle of ethical clothing and other products from the Earth Centre. There will be vendors, mannequins, a silent movie and a do-it-yourself table where someone will help people design no-sew T-shirts.
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