Most people have never thought about how their clothes are produced, let alone had an idea of what they could do about it. Communicating these things and getting people thinking about their connections to workers’ rights issues will kick-start your campaign.
York’s campaign poster to stop the buying of sweatshop made clothing at their SU
Poster campaign
Posters around campus, from billboards to the back of toilet doors, are good for raising awareness.
Shout-outs at the beginning of lectures
Always a good way of introducing the issue to a new audience — you can announce any upcoming campaign actions, and maybe even get your lecturer onside.
Subvertising…
How about subverting branded clothing?
Set up your own sweatshop!
Redress Fashion!
istockphoto.com/Anthony Hall
Most people have probably never thought about how their clothes are produced. You could get volunteers to take part in a one-day sweatshop in a visible place in the university, where they work under the same harsh conditions as people in the factories producing university merchandise.
This event is effective on a number of levels.
It raises awareness of sweatshops through powerful, concrete images.
It reaches students, university staff, and possibly the local community — invite the student and local media along to reach an even wider audience.
How about combining this campaigning stunt with fundraising? You could donate the profits from your sweatshop merchandise to support People & Planet’s campaigning. Concerted political action is required to change practices in this exploitative industry, and it is particularly difficult to raise money to run radical campaigns like Redress Fashion. Read more about supporting P&P on our fundraising pages and in our funding Frequently Asked Questions.
If you get staff in on the event (perhaps as sweatshop managers), you have an ally that will give your agenda more credibility in the eyes of decision-makers.
You can also combine it with an action, such as having a petition-signing going at the same time. Then not only do visitors learn something and become concerned about it, but they are able to do something about it right then and there.
If the sweatshop products are sold to visitors, stamped with an attention-grabbing statement such as ‘THIS BAG WAS MADE IN A SWEATSHOP’, you can raise awareness around campus well after the simulation. They will certainly provoke questions - and hopefully discussion and interest in the campaign.
“Sweatshop Simulation How-to Kit” from the Wellesley Association of Labour Rights Activists
Try to find sponsors to help with costs/materials. We went to other student groups and academic departments.
Have a single group of students work a shift in the sweatshop, manufacturing some small item. Our first year we had 20 students work an 8 hour shift making tote bags. Since then we have increased the length of the shift.
Heat the room to a high temperature.
Create constant loud factory noise (we borrow factory noise CDs from the school theatre department each year).
Have someone act as the sweatshop manager all day, and require hourly quotas from the workers (our quota was 25-30 bags per hour).
We allowed two 5-minute breaks and one 30-minute lunch break, but reduced them if the quota was not met.
Pay low wages. We paid $3.00 per day, and reduced that amount if workers should rip a pattern, break a pin or needle, tear a bag, etc.
Allow visitors to tour your sweatshop, and set up an information table staffed by someone who can answer questions, sell your product,etc.
Sell your product to visitors. We sold the bags we made at $5.00 each, and stamped them with a large stamp that said “THIS BAG WAS MADE IN A SWEATSHOP”.
Invite the student/local press to visit
If your sweatshop is a campus event, consider sending a letter to the administration outlining the reason for your sweatshop.
If trying to effect change on campus, make sure use the momentum of your simulation by scheduling meetings with the administration soon after the event to discuss your concerns.
Send thank-you cards to sponsors and members of the administration who visited the sweatshop.