Two Doncaster teens are petitioning for the harmful effects of fast fashion to be worked into the national curriculum

The petition created by Abi Wordsworth and Maggie Shopova now has over 400 signatures.

The duo both 17 and pupils at Hall Cross School decided to set up this new campaign after they realised the harmful side effects of the industry.

Abi said: “Fast fashion is not talked about enough.

“But it’s the second biggest polluting industry in the world.”

The girls have set up social media to spread their thoughts and opinions about fast fashion, under the name @news.to.reuse they are posting ways for people to reduce their environmental impact in relation to fashion.

Maggie said: “We want children to be taught this in subjects such as PSHE or Geography.

“Currently there is no mandatory coverage of fast fashion in the curriculum.”

The girls are not just concerned about the environmental impact of fast fashion but also how it affects conditions of workers in factories across the world.

Maggie said: “After reading articles during lockdown about how little they’re paid and how unacceptable their workplaces are I knew I had to do something.”

The girls say they are concerned about the impact of the second national lockdown as retail shops where slow fashion is available such as charity shops will be closing again.

With the run up to Christmas the girls are afraid that people will flock to the internet to buy garment based gifts which will increase the damaging side effects of fast fashion.

“We’re not telling people how to shop but we want to encourage responsible consumption,” Abi said.

“We’re asking people to think about how many times they’re likely to wear an item before buying it and perhaps encouraging people to learn how to mend their own clothes.”

Both girls have adapted slow fashion trends into their lives over the past eight months with thrifting being a key part of their wardrobes.

They have also embraced hand me downs from parents instead of online shopping.

The duo’s petition can be found here.

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