Fashion is a conduit for self-expression. It’s an art form all it’s own - one with roots that stretch back thousands and thousands of years. Although styles change, production processes evolve, and cultures shift, fashion, the art of dressing oneself, will remain.

Fashion is also a terribly destructive industry.

As one of the top five most polluting industries in the world, fast fashion (simply defined as “big name” brands mass producing most of the clothes sold in stores today) is notorious for exploitation, injustice, and resource waste.

This week marks the five year anniversary of the Rana Plaza collapse, an event that marked the beginning of a new era: the slow and steady rising of the Fashion Revolution Movement. In 2013, due to structural failings, the five story factory in Bangladesh collapsed, killing 1,134 people and injuring more than 2,000 more, according to Fashion Revolution. The factory workers produced clothes for many well-known and respected brands, many who still haven’t been held accountable for their shortcomings, and lack of accountability and transparency.

Unfortunately, the Rana Plaza collapse hasn’t been the only incident of people losing their lives (or, in other cases, losing their fair wages, dignity, and other basic human rights) at the expense of fast fashion. Not even close. In fact, the vast majority of brands producing the clothes we wear aren’t required to trace their supply chain, provide fair living wages for their employees, or even know the conditions of the factories where their pieces are made.

GlobeIn, and the host of other brands I've had the amazing opportunity to work with over the past few years, is passionate about supporting the Fashion Revolution movement by partnering closely with artisans all over the world, providing them safe, fair, and dignified work, and sharing their work with a worldwide audience.

This "creed" should echo in our minds, whether you're a brand owner, a conscious shopper, or both, not just during FRW but all year long and with every purchase you make:

We believe that fashion doesn’t have to be associated with abuse, poor quality, exploitation, and even the death of innocent people.

We believe fashion should be life-giving. We believe that the fashion industry can change, with the help of conscious consumers choosing to make educated choices about where their products are coming from.

This week, GlobeIn is promoting their brand new Artisan Box called “Fashion Forward” curated in collaboration with some of my favorite ethical brands to further raise awareness for this important message. The box features pieces from incredible empowering and ethical brands like Alaffia, Adelente Shoes (get excited - Adelente is one of my personal favorites. I wear my Granada booties from them everywhere.), Symbology Clothing, 31 Bits, and more! Each of these brands are changing the fashion industry for the better through reducing waste, paying their employees above and beyond minimum wage, and using earth-friendly materials and production methods. I'm in love with each piece inside, and I know you will be too.