Black Friday has become a kind of modern-day Maypole dance around another pile of 'bargains' we probably don't need. If you are less than 100 years old, you may need to be briefed that Maypole dancing is traditionally done in May and was most likely started in Roman Britain when soldiers celebrated the arrival of spring - and fertility - by dancing around decorated trees thanking their goddess Flora. If you can visually (not think of prancing soldiers..) swap out the trees for a store and the ribbons that connect you for marketing, then you have our new Maypole. Black Friday.
The problem with Black Friday of course is that it is another endorphin rush for senseless consumerism, even if what you are buying is 'eco'. Sydney sustainable and local fashion house, Citizen Wolf started a BLACK FRIdye movement a few years ago. And it's a brilliant way to get new fashion without going to any store.
SIMPLY DYE THE CLOTHES YOU ALREADY HAVE AND LOVE, BLACK.
BLACK FRIdye will redye any garment by any brand and offers an incredibly easy and affordable way for individuals to reduce their carbon footprint by giving their old clothes a ‘like new’ second life and reducing consumption of virgin textiles in the process. And that's not even counting the huge advantage of getting your clothes professionally dyed... That the dye tends to stay where it's supposed to...
“WHAT STARTED 4 YEARS AGO WITH A SINGLE EMAIL TO THE CITIZEN WOLF DATABASE HAS GROWN INTO A MULTI-INDUSTRY COALITION OF BRANDS WITH A COLLECTIVE AMBITION TO ELEVATE THE SUSTAINABILITY DISCUSSION DURING THE BIGGEST - AND MOST MINDLESS - SALES EVENT OF THE RETAIL CALENDAR”.
In 2020 BLACK FRIdye saved over 1.85 million litres of water via redyeing compared to the water cost of virgin clothing production – approximately 27 backyard swimming pools worth of water. This year we’re aiming to save 5 million litres, or enough to fill 2 Olympic swimming pools.
The fashion industry’s carbon emissions are forecast to rise 50% in the coming decade as billions more garments are made every year. This is not only completely at odds with the proven climate science of needing to drastically reduce emissions to save the planet, but also just completely odd because we’ve already got too many clothes.
The average Aussie landfills 23kg of textiles per year and wears only around 33% of their wardrobe3. Why? Because it’s really, really hard to find clothes you love – so when you finally do, they’re the only things you want to wear.
Partners this year span industries from fashion and accessories to beer with the full list on the BLACK FRIdye website, but they include: Citizen Wolf | Nique | For Good Design Lab | Arnsdorf | A.BCH (ABCH Pty Ltd) | Good On You | Hawke's Brewing Co. | Sample Coffee | Seljak Brand | Serpent & the Swan | Annie Hamilton | Dempstah | A_C | One Small Step.
BLACK FRIdye is a time-limited event with orders open for one week only starting November 22, 2021. Prices start from only $19 for tops, $29 for jeans and $39 for jackets (exc. shipping) which is up to 70% cheaper than going to the dyehouse yourself. You can either ship your clothes or if you are in Sydney or Melbourne, drop off pick up at minimalist fashion house Nique. Locations on Nique website.