Fast Fashion

Sustainable Consumerism

Fashion is a huge part of young people’s lives, but it’s also one of the world’s most resource-intensive industries.

Each year, the world generates approximately 92 million tonnes of clothing waste. This is about a lorry load full of clothes being added to landfill or incineration sites across the globe every second of every day.

In the UK alone, between 300,000 and 350,000 tonnes of clothing are discarded every year - how we consume and dispose of clothing has far-reaching effects on human communities and natural environments in the UK and around the world.

A woman with dark hair holds a sign that reads "We are fashion revolution. We are you." in front of an indoor staircase at a fashion event, with other people visible in the background.

The Collaboration

Fashion Takes Action (FTA) is Canada’s leading non-profit organisation dedicated to advancing sustainability in the fashion industry.

FTA empowers citizens, educators, and businesses by providing the tools and knowledge needed to create lasting change. Their mission is to remove barriers to sustainability and foster collaboration, innovation, and impact throughout the fashion ecosystem.

About the Workshop

We are all a little fatigued by climate science. Young people especially. That is why we teamed up with Fashion Takes Action to create ‘Solving Fashion's Waste Problem’.

This 50-minute or 90-minute workshop uses fashion as a way into the climate crisis, exploring its causes and consequences through a lens young people already care about. Because the best conversations about complex issues start somewhere familiar.

Designed by industry experts, this workshop makes climate action relatable, practical, and fun.

Four girls in school uniforms standing behind a table with a laptop and a poster board, smiling at the camera during a school project presentation.

In this programme, young people will:

  • Discover the environmental impact of fashion waste.

  • Learn how the 7 R’s (reduce, reuse, repurpose, repair, resale, rent, recycle) can shape a more sustainable future.

  • Explore and Become Sustainable Fashion Leaders in their school and community

The Impact

By taking part, students will …

Discover

The environmental impact of fashion waste

Apply the 7 R’s

Learn how the 7 R’s (reduce, reuse, repurpose, repair, resale, rent, recycle) can shape a more sustainable future

Become

Sustainable Fashion Leaders in their school and community

What teachers are saying about GenEarth

"Our year 7s Loved this workshop! It was well delivered to the whole cohort over one morning. Students thought critically about the issues of fast fashion and came up with creative sustainable solutions! Laura and Riley were really engaging allowing students to develop discussions. It really added to our year 7 curriculum where students were in introduced to fast fashion in the economy unit. We hope they can visit next year."

“The workshop linked seamlessly to our Geography of Fashion topic, particularly as we have nearly finished the topic and it got them thinking about solutions to the issue and the role that young people can play. The creative ideas that came out from the session were excellent and I will suggest they try and implement some of the most practical and realistic ones in school. Both our facilitators were engaging and confident in working with young people and clearly passionate about the issues being discussed.”

“The workshop provided students with a valuable opportunity to understand the environmental impact of fashion waste and empowered them to think critically about how they can become sustainable fashion leaders within their school and community. The interactive format of the session was a hit with students, who embraced the chance to take ownership of a real-world global issue.” 

Young student raising hand in classroom with classmates and science bulletin board in background.
Group of young women in school uniforms at a science or cooking event, engaging in conversation, with a science setup and a whiteboard in the background.

The Impact

The difference it’s making

We’ve been running this programme with Fashion Takes Action since 2025, we can’t wait to continue creating more impact together.

86%

Of students felt they increased their awareness of the problem of fashion waste

78%

Felt the workshop helped them to learn new ways to solve fashion waste

Book the Sustainable Consumerism programme in your school

GenEarth in your school

Choose a date that suits and book this programme for your school via the link below.

Or be in touch via this short form, and one of our team will get back to you for a chat, and to answer any questions you may have. We look forward to speaking!

BOOK THE PROGRAMME HERE

Frequently Asked Questions

Have questions?

  • We currently deliver our programmes in-person throughout London schools and community settings, more locations to come as we grow! If you’re outside of London, we can definitely host an online workshop for you.

  • As we currently do not have funding to fund this particular programme, the workshop comes at a cost of £150 per class with discounts offered for multi class bookings on the same day.

  • Fashion depends on natural resources including land, water and raw materials. Cotton farming, synthetic fibre production and textile waste can all contribute to habitat destruction, pollution and pressure on ecosystems. Protecting nature means rethinking how we produce and consume clothing.

  • Please notify us ASAP to make any changes to your booking. Please note if you cancel a workshop within two working days of the workshop delivery date we will have to apply a charge. Please contact info@genearth.uk for further information.

  • Teachers are required to be present throughout the duration of the workshop to support the students, to ensure all the AV equipment is set up in advance and to print a small amount of worksheets.

  • Exploring fashion waste helps young people develop critical thinking, problem solving, creativity, communication and collaboration skills. It encourages them to look beyond symptoms and understand the systems that create challenges in the first place, skills that are valuable far beyond fashion itself.