The fashion world is aware of this problem, but the key stakeholders are not taking effective action. That's why the initiative is giving the fashion world what it always wants: an event modeled on the major fashion weeks held in Paris, Milan, São Paulo, and London. Atacama Fashion Week will feature a fashion show in the middle of the Atacama garbage dump, with models wearing looks made by fashion designers from garments dumped at the site. In addition to the runway action, the project will feature a photo editorial signed by Mauricio Nahas, an award-winning photographer with a career of over 30 years.
Philosophy
To raise awareness and show the true extent of this problem to different audiences, NGO Desierto Vestido, in partnership with Fashion Revolution and Instituto Febre, and production of Sugarcane Filmes, is promoting Atacama Fashion Week.
Problem
In the town of Alto Hospicio, in Chile's Atacama Desert, a mountain of more than 59,000 tons of clothing, including shoes, T-shirts, jackets, dresses, and other garments, can now be seen from space. The images revealed via satellite could refer to one of those mythical Latin American movie scenes, but in reality, they are a social and environmental warning highlighting the dangers of unbridled consumption (and production) of items for fashion trends.