THE SOCIAL STUDIO: FASHION AS A FORCE OF SOCIAL IMPACT
By: Prachi Khatri
In an era of fashion that’s all about creativity and bringing in sustainability, the Social Studio stands out as an enterprise to embrace the upcycled fashion. The Social Studio is a not-for-profit organization that provides work and training opportunities for people with refugee and migrant backgrounds.
The Social Studio was founded in 2009 by a group of Melbourne community members, a mix of local designers and fashion enthusiasts with a common idea: to use fashion as a vehicle for change. The Social studio does not only uplift the youth and people of migrant backgrounds but also creates a community space. People learn, grow and work at the studio with a sense of belonging.
This not-for-profit enterprise has promoted education, community involvement, sustainability and economic empowerment using the power of fashion to uplift people, especially refugees and new immigrants.
“It is really supportive and every day I get so many different inspirations to create something new. It is the best experience I have had in my life; it’s my second home. People go above and beyond and want to push you and put you out of your comfort zone,” quotes a student about The Social Studio experience.
The Social Studio operates as an educator, employer, creative space for designers to get inspiration, and production house. The ecosystem is designed to set students up for success when they go out in the real world and open doors for those who are often left at the margins otherwise.
Credit - https://thesocialstudio.org/
Fashion is not just about clothes but about proposing and what it represents. The new era of fashion is the meaning behind the clothes we wear and what they symbolize. It’s about the people who wear them and the hands that create them. It’s a well-known fact that people from marginalized groups face more hardships to overcome the societal inequalities across all sectors.
The Social Studio’s vision is deep-rooted in social justice, upcycling fashion as a tool to provide a pathway for employment by creating many jobs in schools, studios, and more. The Social Studio also launched its store and has supported more than 800 students in getting accredited with its courses.
The organization provides a two-year accredited certificate course in apparel, fashion, and textiles, and to be eligible to enroll, one must be a refugee or a non-English-speaking new immigrant eligible to study in Australia. The Social Studio school also offers sewing lessons, training, workshops, and practical knowledge opportunities to its students to prepare them for real-world skills.
Graduate students from the program have created their own labels and small businesses, proving organizational success with a 96% completion rate. The Social Studio also runs its retail store that sells garments made with a social purpose. The mission of these stores is to showcase the products created and owned by BIPOC and culturally diverse creatives.
Credit - https://thesocialstudio.org/
Every fiber of its products is woven with social impact in mind, and all proceeds from retail store sales are used for education and training programs. The manufacturing studio creates high-quality clothing and accessories for its in-house labels.
The Social Studio has utilized 20+ tonnes of textile waste that would have otherwise ended up in landfills. Since its inception the company has kept its supply chain transparent, and customers have been educated about its sourcing and product cycle. Their ethical business model is also awarded by Ethical Clothing Australia and certified to meet the environmental standards.
More than just another not-for-profit organization, the Social Studio is a great model of change for the fashion world and how fashion can be aligned with people, purpose, and cultural celebration. The institute connects communities and inspires others in the fashion industry to drive with a purpose.