BPM Doc is Taking Fast-Fashion to Cleaners in Story on Clothing-Climate Nexus

Black Public Media’s two-time Anthem Award-winning BE HEARD series is bringing attention to some very important issues facing Black communities. And, in some cases, unknown to Black communities. BPM identifies a theme and then commissions a filmmaker to create content addressing it.

BE HEARD: #ShopLikeNana, this season’s campaign launched on September 9, amplifies Black voices in the global conversation on climate in its encouragement of consumers to dress smart by reducing fast fashion, shopping in their grandmother’s closet for vintage wear, using their own wardrobe and visiting local thrift stores.

“The goal is to encourage people to think about the value of their clothing beyond the purchase price and celebrate time-honored culturally resonate sustainability practices,” says Sophia Clark, a New York Emmy-nominated content creator who directed #ShopLikeNana. “The issue is timely: The fashion industry, the second-largest consumer of the world’s water supply, is already producing 10% of global carbon emissions and polluting our oceans with microplastics.”

“According to the Ellen MacArthur Foundation, if left unchecked, the explosion of clothing production could see the fashion industry accounting for 26% of global greenhouse gas emissions by 2050.”

BE HEARD: #ShopLikeNana is designed to activate Millennial and Gen Z shoppers, who are more engaged than older generations in addressing climate change.