SUSTAINABILITY & FAST FASHION EFFECTS
Zine: Creative, Collage & Protest
Creative Zine Project on Sustainability and The Effects of Fast Fashion
This collaborative project involved creating a visually engaging zine centred on the theme of sustainability. As a group, we conducted in-depth research into contemporary and future issues surrounding fast fashion. This process helped us identify key concepts, dominant narratives, and subcultural perspectives within sustainability, which we translated into powerful visual signifiers.
The written content reflected our personal interests in sustainability while targeting a specific niche audience. We adopted a protest-inspired tone to inform, inspire, and evoke strong emotional responses from readers.
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Our team conducted extensive research, uncovering the stark realities of fast fashion giants like Boohoo and Zara, whose practices prioritise profits over sustainability and ethics. Using this knowledge, we crafted a zine that challenges consumerism and advocates for systemic change. Each team member contributed a unique perspective, with my focus on debunking myths surrounding fast fashion and highlighting the societal and technological drivers perpetuating the cycle.
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Through our research, we identified a significant gap in public awareness—shockingly, 30% of respondents didn’t understand what fast fashion entails, despite its pervasive impact. This reinforced the importance of our project’s educational tone and vivid storytelling. Additionally, individual stories like that of Arifa, a factory worker enduring exploitation, served to humanise the issue and drive home the urgent need for change.
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The zine’s visual language employed bold colours, layered textures, and distorted typography to provoke emotional responses. Inspired by grassroots activism, the design sought to convey urgency, leaving a lasting impression on our niche audience. A "patchwork" aesthetic reflected the collaborative and diverse nature of zine culture, while a storyboard approach ensured cohesive storytelling.
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Sustainability was the driving force behind this project, both in theme and execution. The zine underscored the environmental cost of consumerism and the exploitation within fast fashion supply chains. Beyond the content, we implemented sustainable practices in the production process, such as using recycled paper and minimising waste during printing. This alignment between message and method strengthened the zine’s authenticity and impact.
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This project was a testament to teamwork and creative synergy. Our appendix functioned as a blueprint, ensuring balanced responsibilities and fostering collaboration. Personally, I developed skills in CAD, project management, and team dynamics, discovering my strengths as an Implementer and Resource Investigator. However, I also recognised the need to improve time management and interpersonal skills, with plans to incorporate team-building exercises in future endeavours.
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The Zine Sustainability Project highlighted the power of visual communication in activism. By combining data, personal narratives, and compelling visuals, the zine served as both a call to action and a reflection on the environmental crisis. It demonstrated the potential of creativity to challenge systems, spark dialogue, and make a lasting impact on its audience while practising sustainability in its execution.