Fashion Revolution is a not-for-profit global movement that was founded by British fashion designers Orsola de Castro and Carry Somers following the collapse of the Rana Plaza garment factory in Bangladesh on April 24, 2013 that killed 1,134 people and injured another 2,500. Fashion Revolution campaigns for a clean, safe, fair, transparent and accountable fashion industry; one that that conserves and restores the environment and values people over growth and profit. Over the past ten years, it has grown to become the world’s largest fashion activism movement, mobilizing citizens, brands and policymakers through research, education and advocacy. Every year, they organize Fashion Revolution Week in April, but this year’s campaign is marking a decade of active campaigning with ten days of action running from April 15 to 24.

I don’t consider myself a fashion activist, but I do believe that everyone has a part to play in building a fashion industry that puts people and the planet first. Until our our clothing is made in safe, clean, and fair ways, we’re all part of the problem.

Those of us who live in North America have little choice but to buy clothes that are produced overseas and it’s virtually impossible to find out whether they are made in sweatshops where workers are exploited and forced to work in unsafe conditions or manufactured in socially and environmentally responsible factories. So, what can we do? How can we be part of the solution instead of the problem?

Overconsumption has become a huge problem. Apparently, the number of clothes that the average consumer purchased between 2000 and 2014 increased by 60 percent and those clothes tended to kept about only half as long as in the past. Individually, we can do our part by buying less and choosing quality over quantity. After all, how much do we really need hanging in our closets? At least one of the fashion bloggers that I follow has committed to The Rule of 5, planning to buying no more than five new fashion items this year. She’s decided to explore second-hand shopping which, as you know, is one of my favourite ways to add to my wardrobe.

Another way that we can take action is to extend the life of our clothing by learning to mend, repair, and upcycle. In cities around the world Fashion Revolution activists are planning to come together in public spaces tomorrow to work on personal mending projects while drawing attention to the goals of the movement. That reminds me that I still have two pieces set aside from my recent closet cull waiting for some simple upcycling. Though I won’t be doing it in a public place, perhaps that should be my Fashion Revolution Week project.