Fashion Revolution Week 2025: Think Globally, Act Locally

This week (22-29 April 2025), we’re joining the global movement to mark Fashion Revolution Week 2025, a time to reflect on how our clothes are made, who makes them, and what kind of impact the fashion industry has on people and the planet.

The theme this year is Think Globally, Act Locally. It’s a timely reminder that while fashion is a global industry, the way it affects communities, countries, and individuals varies greatly. Every country has a unique role to play in reshaping the system for the better. Here in Australia, we have the opportunity to lead local action for global change.

Why fashion needs a revolution

Fashion Revolution began in the wake of the Rana Plaza tragedy in 2013, where over 1100 garment workers lost their lives in Bangladesh. The disaster spotlighted the hidden cost of fast fashion, not just environmental damage, but unsafe working conditions and unliveable wages.

Twelve years on, progress has been made, but many of the underlying issues remain. That’s why this week is about more than raising awareness – it’s about recommitting to doing better.

Where we currently stand
Each year, Australians buy an average of:
• 53 brand new clothing items
• 9 secondhand items

That’s a lot of fashion, but not all of it is made to last. Most of it ends up in landfill, often after being worn only a handful of times:
• 7-10 the average number of times a garment is worn before it’s discarded
• 222,000 tonnes of clothing are headed to Australian landfills each year

Sources: Ellen MacArthur Foundation, Seamless National Clothing Benchmark (Nov 2024)

What Salvos Stores is doing

At Salvos Stores, we’re proud to be part of the solution. Every month, thanks to our generous donors and conscious customers, we keep millions of preloved items in circulation across Australia. That’s millions of pieces of clothing, furniture, books and more given a second chance and saved from landfill.

We’ve been championing circular economy thinking for more than a century. By choosing to buy secondhand, donate quality items, or repair what you already own, you’re helping reduce demand for new production and keeping valuable resources in use for longer.

Join the Revolution

Fashion Revolution Week reminds us that small actions can lead to big change. Repairing a favourite shirt, shopping secondhand instead of buying new, or hosting a clothes swap might seem simple, but multiplied across thousands of Australians, they’re powerful acts of resistance against waste and overconsumption.

This Fashion Revolution Week, we invite you to reflect on how your local actions contribute to global change. Whether you’re donating, shopping secondhand, or learning more about ethical fashion, it all counts.

Learn more about Fashion Revolution Week on their website https://www.fashionrevolution.org/frw-25/