Global Fashion Industry Urged to Donate to Kantamanto Market Fire Relief Fund Amid Sustainability Concerns

Title: Calls For Fashion Brands To Donate To Kantamanto Market Fire Relief Fund

As the devastating fire at Ghana’s Kantamanto market continues to unfold, the fashion industry is being called upon to take responsibility for its actions. The market, a hub of second-hand clothing and shoes from the West and China, has been ravaged by the blaze, leaving thousands without income or livelihoods.

The call to action comes as the true extent of the disaster becomes clear, with 15 million garments being imported weekly, only for roughly 40 percent of each bale to end up as waste, dumped in landfills and causing a public health crisis and environmental harm. This tragedy serves as a stark reminder that the fashion industry’s unsustainable practices have far-reaching consequences.

Fashion Africa Now, a platform dedicated to centering afrocentric and afrodiasporic perspectives on the industry, has issued a statement calling for the creation of a Global Fashion Solidarity Fund. The organization is urging brands to take responsibility for their impact on global south communities like Kantamanto’s.

Rafael Kouto, a Swiss upcycling designer, echoed this sentiment, stating that “local communities can’t and shouldn’t deal with this alone. Companies must fully extend their producer responsibility.”

The statement from Fashion Africa Now read: “This isn’t just about fashion. It’s about justice, sustainability, and rethinking the systems that exploit the Global South while the Global North thrives.”

In response to the disaster, luxury second-hand marketplace Vestiaire Collective has pledged to mobilize its global community to join fundraising efforts to support the rebuilding of the market and provide relief during this difficult time. However, it is yet to make a financial donation itself.

Vestiaure Collective’s chief impact officer, Dounia Wone, emphasized the urgent need for change, stating that “this tragedy reminds us of the urgent need to rethink how the global fashion system works.”

The fact remains that the true impact of this fire has yet to be revealed, and the consequences of a backlog of second-hand clothing with nowhere to go are still unknown.

Source: http://www.forbes.com