The Re-dress Girls

The cause Redress, The Better Fashion Initiative, coordinates events, workshops and projects to promote better practice in the fashion industry and awareness amongst the public about the clothing they buy. it’s all about making ethical choices.

How it all started After witnessing the negative aspects of the clothing industry (cheap labour, environmental waste, disposable fashion), fashion graduates Kate Nolan and Rosie O?Reilly decided to try and make a difference. Inspired by movements like the Clean Clothes Campaign, Rosie wanted to set up something in Ireland, but with a holistic approach – looking at sustainability as well as things like labour rights. ?We ran an event and got designer Katherine Hamnett to come over and we ran industry events with panel speakers from H&M, Edun and M&S,? says Rosie. ?We got such a huge response, we kept running them.? ?We’ve spent the last five years trying to reconnect people with their clothing and everything that goes into making it,? adds Kate.

What they’ve done Aside from their ever-popular Better Fashion Conversations and Better Fashion Week, Rosie and Kate have immersed themselves in everything from installation work to garment graffiti to activism.

What’s next An installation for the Fringe Festival entitled €4 0f 704? built by Designgoat, using clothing to talk about rising sea levels.

To see more about our Real Women Activists pick up the August Issue of IMAGE on newsstands now.

Meg Walker @MegWalkerDublin