The SU takes on the 6 Items Challenge

Over six weeks, Christina, Students' Union Coordinator along with other Rebecca Duffy, Higher Education Officer, began Labour Behind the Label’s ‘6 Items Challenge’.

They worked hard to make just 6 items look and feel like different outfits (featured below), not only to raise awareness of the absurd amount of excess and unnecessary clothing that clog up our wardrobes, but also to raise money for LBL to fund their important work in fighting for the rights of garment makers across the world.

After 35 days of wearing the same garments, Christina and Bex reflected upon their journey:

Christina - Students' Union Coordinator

"Myself and the skirt featured here have formed a bond over the course of the last 5 weeks. It has both been a faithful friend and a symbol of everything I hate about the world. It’s been a bittersweet relationship, and I hope it won’t be offended when I NEVER WEAR IT EVER AGAIN. ….at least not for a while anyway.

I say this not only because of the human rights abuses that are happening to make our lives easier and to feed our thirst for the new, the embellished and the exciting… one day we’ll all be second hand goods that the world won’t appreciate (heavy), but also because this challenge has made me reflect on a number of things. Fair warning, this is the bit wear I get all serious on your asses…

I entered into this challenge already believing myself to be a non-materialistic person. I hardly ever buy new clothes, and when I do they are more often than not second hand. I was feeling content in the knowledge that I already do my best not to contribute to unethical practices that perpetuate social injustice. And while there still remains an element of truth in that, I will be leaving this experience with a much deeper understanding of how materialism effects us culturally, and what that means for our society and for our world… (told you this was the serious part)

Sustainability isn’t just about ensuring that we don’t contribute to or perpetuate malpractice, but is also about <understanding the reasons why we do so. We have become so used to being bombarded with newness, that we fail to appreciate what we have. We look to what we can have next, rather than what we can do with what we have now. And our imaginations and our creativity have become dulled in the process.

This challenge has taught me that I can be creative, and that I really don’t need stuff...In essence, I didn’t really know anything.

I have come to recognise that even I (shock, horror) am selfish when it comes to wanting to look good, to having what I want to achieve that, when I want it. You can argue that there is nothing inherently evil about that, which there isn’t (vain, yes. evil, no.), but it is reflective of how we as a society have become entrenched in consumerism. Even if you are the kind of person that wants to save the world, you are still a slave to your own desires. But these are desires which have been conditioned into us.

In times gone by, we used to cherish our possessions and take pride in looking after them for reasons beyond the economically sensible, but also sentimentality. I can honestly say that I have become emotionally attached to my garments… and whilst I cannot deny that there have been occasions when I wanted to take to all 6 of them with a sharp blade, I have also managed to create AT LEAST 15 different outfits with them.. more if you count the accessories that slightly alter the looks. I have made 1 shirt look like 5 different things, and 1 skirt look like at least 3… I think that’s pretty amazing.

First on my to do list is to have a pretty major wardrobe clear out, the idea of which already makes me feel cleansed. This challenge has given me permission to step outside of societal and cultural expectations… and now I want to stay here.

I would strongly encourage all of you to have a go at this yourself, even if just to challenge your own perception of what your relationship with consumerism is. I think you’d be surprised… it goes deeper than you might at first think…

Boycotting of brands won’t fix the injustice associated with wages for garment workers. The only thing that will make a difference is to change the way we think about clothing… to change our relationship with how we look. Quantity doesn’t necessarily equate to unique, or even make you feel any better. You’ll never fill the hole that way, there’ll always be a gap to fill, but if you stop to think about something a little bit bigger than yourselves, you’ll also realise that is also not something that the world can maintain. We need to stop the demand before any change will happen.

…that being said, no, you’re right. I CANNOT WAIT TO WEAR A NEW OUTFIT. But the joy of that is, I won’t have to buy anything for the privilege!"

Rebecca Duffy - Higher Education Officer

"From my experience so far, during the College week I have to say that I have really noticed my own bad habits when it comes to wearing a different outfit for each day. I had too many of the same type of clothes, I changed my style by going more 'hippie' looking to help transform my new look, I found it was actually quite easy to match up more colours and patterns by changing my clothes that mostly came from my mum and clothes that I haven't worn for years. Compared to how I normally like to be a 'sheep' and blend in with the 'in' crowd, I found that more people noticed my outfit and my friends also noticed how the same items can be re-worn but look totally different."

The Students' Union went on to raise a total of £120.00 for Labour Behind the Label.