
This semester in Global Citizenship, 7th and 8th graders examined the way we make, buy, and dispose of our clothing with our unit about How a T-Shirt Gets Made.
In doing so, we saw how the rise of Fast Fashion in their lifetimes has contributed to a global system of economic production that relies on the exploited labor power from developing countries (many of whom are young women) as well as an intense and unsustainable use of fossil fuels in the fabric itself (think polyester, spandex, and elastane) as well as shipping items throughout the global supply chain.
Students grappled with how we benefit as consumers from having cheap, trendy clothing in the short term with long term consequences and the inevitable way our consumer practices clash with our stated values.
Additionally, students undertook a hands-on project – The Closet Challenge – to tally their own clothing and make conscious choices around disposing of clothing that no longer served them. Students also learned how to make simple repairs such as patching, replacing buttons, and hemming as a means of extending the life out of perfectly serviceable items in need of a little TLC.
Ultimately students came away with the uneasy idea that for now, there are no easy answers when it comes to something as basic as acquiring and disposing of clothing. What we know is that our unconscious patterns of consumption and disposal do not serve the short, medium, and long term trajectories of Mother Earth and her citizens.
In this unit of study, we observed that often people are resistant to change their practices, and even with our newly formed knowledge, we observed the barriers, some coming from within, to making choices that align with our values. In the act of raising our consciousness about clothing, we fostered the ongoing practice of questioning and reflection at the heart of Quaker education.
Written By: Alex Zinnes


Highlighted Student Reflections:
The overall closet challenge as a whole was life changing. The closet challenge completely changed the way I think of clothing. Whenever I think of clothing now, I think of plastic, fast fashion, how they're made, and how much it pollutes the environment.
Jimmy
The most meaningful part of this project to me is how so much of our clothing is made in sweatshops, and people don’t even know about it. All the big companies and brands are using these factories, and most people don't even know how buying from one of these companies makes an impact on the workers. It was also shocking realizing how much of my clothing was from fast fashion companies. What was the most surprising to me was that kids work in these dangerous factories. It's heartbreaking to think about how someone my age is working in an unsafe factory making our clothes while I am able to go to school and learn in a safe environment. It is eye opening learning about how these companies are getting away with using people from countries like Bangladesh for cheap labor and how far the factories would go to save an extra dollar.
Learning how the Goodwill operates made me want to look into alternative stores to donate clothes to. In the future I will definitely donate to different organizations. Another practice that I will carry forward is repairing clothing. Before, when I had a hole or a missing button I would not wear the item. However, now I can fix it on my own and I can get more use out of the clothes. I can also add onto or modify a piece of my clothing to something I would wear more. A behavior I hope to carry forward to buying less from fast fashion. It would be hard for me to do this because it is the easiest and cheaper option especially as a kid who doesn't have a constant source of income. I will try to only buy what I really want or need from these companies. Although, I think it will be hard.
Before this unit I had no idea what was behind a single t-shirt. Now that I do, it is very eye opening, it is special to me that I am able to learn about this in school because this topic is not talked about enough. I really enjoyed this unit because not only is it a very unique topic to learn but also it gives me a new perspective on a t-shirt.
Sahana, FSA Student
Before this assignment, a t-shirt was just a piece of colored fabric to me. Now when I see a t-shirt, I think about who made it, where it was made and wonder what the working conditions were.
Eli, FSA Student
This subject has taught me that there can be a whole story behind just one t-shirt. Now, every time I wear a t-shirt, I will always wonder about the story behind it. I will never forget about the struggling lives of the workers in Bangladesh who work hard long hours for a very little wage. There is a long journey of making just a t-shirt with many different people from around the world a part of it. I will never look at the clothes I wear the same ever again.
Zoe, FSA Student

