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Dress for our time by dress4ourtime

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Pitch

We are building a community that uses the power and nature of fashion to create awareness and ignite new kinds of action.


Description

Summary

DRESS FOR OUR TIME IS A WORK OF EXPERIMENTAL ACTIVISM, WHICH ACKNOWLEDGES OUR PART IN THE PROBLEM.

FASHION IS EVERYWHERE - SO SMALL CHANGES CAN UPSCALE FAST TO HAVE SIGNIFICANT IMPACT.

We are building a community that uses the power and nature of fashion to create awareness and ignite new kinds of action.

http://www.dress4ourtime.org


What actions do you propose?

  • Viral campaigns (based on significant success in the past, See http://www.catalytic-clothing.com) which explore the use of nostalgia, surprise and ingenuity, as the catalysts to engage a global audience.
  • The creation of a unique art/science installation – an internet connected dress, which can be programed to also display a first time world data experiment, which collides the IPCC 'Reasons for Concern' evidence, as presented in the ‘burning embers’ diagram, with other human conditions for life and our use of the planet together.
  • The public display and interaction with the installation, at the time of the CO21 Paris Climate Summit in December 2015.
  • Follow on campaigns beyond Dec 2015.
  • The spread and development of the work into the University education (curriculum). 
  • The creation of a new world network which brings together previously disengaged people into relationship with climate change on an on going basis.


Who will take these actions?

Project lead is Prof. Helen Storey MBE RDI FRSA, University of the Arts London. 

Team partners already include : Unilever, Met Office, UNHCR Refugee Program, Holition, University of The Arts London, Centre for Sustainable Fashion, University of Ulster, DED Design, Tapastreet and others.

Key social media figures and bloggers, and their fan bases and followers, will further upscale our impact.

 


Where will these actions be taken?

  • Creation of the work and running of campaigns from London.
  • Installation Paris & London.
  • On going work in education, future viral campaigns and sustainable community building and connection in London.
  • Everywhere i.e. online


How will these actions have a high impact in addressing climate change?

  • By applying the power, impact and scale of the fashion industry ( ubiquitous & universal appeal) to points of psychological tension when considering our collective fate. Turning sense of powerlessness into action and engagement.


What are other key benefits?

  • Uniting business, NGOs, education and the next generation together to transform our future.
  • Taking new kinds of creative risks, in this once in a life time chance to change our course.


What are the proposal’s costs?

Already partially funded by industry, we are seeking a further $75K for 2015 and a further $150K for 2016.

 


Time line

  • Research/R&D phase completed.
  • Viral campaigns June – December 2015 and into 2016 
  • Creation of project assets i.e. installation Summer 2015.
  • Data experiment delivered June – November 2015
  • Installation and public engagement December 2015
  • Media campaign from July 2015 building towards December 2015.
  • Evaluation of impact Jan 2016.
  • Next campaigns and follow up actions ( informed by the above from Feb 2016)
  • New installations worked upon for global exhibition Jan – July 2016.
  •  


Related proposals

Art and design  

 


References

http://www.helenstoreyfoundation.org

http://www.theguardian.com/science/2012/oct/21/bright-idea-jeans-clean-cities

IPCC 'Reasons for Concern' https://www.ipcc.ch/publications_and_data/ar4/wg2/en/ch19s19-3-7.html

Red mist descending: the curious history of the IPCC's 'burning embers' http://thetopograph.blogspot.co.uk/2014/04/red-mist-descending-curious-history-of.html