Kelly Drennan of Fashion Takes Action on the importance of youth education that centers fashion's impact on people + the planet

Conscious Chatter

In episode 296, Kestrel welcomes Kelly Drennan, the founder of Fashion Takes Action, to the show. A Canada-based non-profit, Fashion Takes Action works to remove barriers to sustainability through education, awareness, research and collaboration.

“We often talk about our school program, and just fashion is inherently cool, you know. And so, we’re able to really, through our school program, touch on some of these bigger, broader climate change issues, but through the lens of fashion, which for kids is relatable and cool. They get up every day and they put on clothes, but they don’t get up every day and drive a vehicle or pay the energy bills or go grocery shopping. So, for us, it’s just a really great way to reach them and we try to do it in a way that’s cool.” -Kelly

Have you looked into educational programs around fashion and sustainability? Or maybe you have completed a program focused on sustainability or fashion and sustainability?

The options out there are definitely growing in the higher education realm, but I think there is still a lot of work to do when it comes to ensuring the curriculum becomes more holistic and includes the root issues that have led to why we are where we are today.

But we are seeing changes at the higher education level, which is important. At the same time, what about kids? What about our youth?

When are they getting exposure to questions like:

• Who made my clothes?

• What are my clothes made out of?

• What does a fashion supply chain look like?

I hear whispers from folks in my community that little projects connected to fashion and sustainability are sneaking their way into elementary and high school education through educators who care about it, but on a large scale, I rarely hear that our young people are getting access to learn about why what we wear matters, on so many levels.

This week’s guest developed a program back in 2014 to help teach youth about the impacts of fashion. While it was delivered in person by educators for several years, their workshops are now available online.

As she says –

“If we can reach these young people before they’re out there in the world buying things, then, maybe we have a better chance at changing that behavior.”

Quotes & links from the conversation:

• “We realized early on — we weren’t just going to be working with industry, because if consumers (I hate that word, I know we all hate that word now), but if the general public wasn’t aware of the negative impacts of the industry and what sustainable alternatives there were, then they weren’t necessarily going to have access to sustainable designers. And so, we always felt that we needed to keep educating the general public, while at the same time, supporting the industry.” -Kelly (10:22)

• My Clothes My World Program

• WEAR Conference

• Fashion Impacts 101 (RCGD Global x Fashion Takes Action Video Series)

• Fashion Take’s Action Website >

• Follow Kelly on Instagram >

• Follow Fashion Takes Action on Instagram >