The immense student backlash received by Newcastle University’s Student Union over its decision to host big name fast fashion brand Shein at its Discover Newcastle Fair in February has now prompted a rethink among SU directors over the promotion of fast fashion companies on campus.
Back in February, Shein were given a table at the SU’s Discover Newcastle Fair, where brand ambassadors offered students the chance to win a whole rack of clothes as well as vouchers in exchange for pictures with their branding and email sign ups. Understandably, the reaction from students was so heated it was almost palpable, with people quickly coming forward to vocalise their disappointment, branding the SU’s decision as both “contradictory” and “embarrassing”. Shein, a company with a fundamentally unsustainable model of clothes production centred around fast fashion, is already well known for being one of worst polluters in the industry. The company’s excessive use of virgin polyester and large consumption of oil churns out catastrophic amounts of CO2 - 6.3 million tonnes a year to be exact - according to recent reports published on fashion sustainability. In a world aiming to cut global carbon emissions by 45% by 2030, yet where fast fashion companies are responsible for releasing more than 10% of these emissions, big brands like Shein are falling well below the target imposed to help combat global warming and are by no means positively contributing towards the shared goal that lies on the horizon.
Newcastle University, which prides itself on being ranked first in the UK for sustainable development, has been hugely vocal in recent years about its commitment and efforts to promote sustainable living, reflected in its webpage dedicated to environmental sustainability work and its very own sustainability team who focus on improving sustainability on campus. Yet, the partnership with Shein at the SU’s most recent fair is a complete contradiction and a far cry from the bold statement of being committed to “embedding social and environmental justice throughout our activity” and “taking action on the climate and ecological crises” promised on the university’s website. When contacted, a Newcastle University SU spokesperson commented: “We are aware that some students have registered their frustration at Shein being part of yesterday’s Discover Newcastle Re-Freshers Fair. We take the views of all students very seriously and, following discussions between the Directors and Sabbatical Officers, we have decided to amend our approach to promoting fast fashion brands within the Student Union building.”
From the SU’s statement, it appears that the fierce criticism over the last few weeks has had the desired effect and SU staff will now be thinking twice before making any more environmentally unfriendly decisions like inviting fast fashion brands to future events. Yet, whilst the SU’s response suggests they’ll try to act with increased awareness moving forward and work with brands whose values are more in line with their own sustainability centred motto, the suggestion of “amending” their approach to fast fashion promotion only sparks more worries and questions than it really answers. Now, many green-minded students are showing concern over what “amending” its approach actually means and whether their SU will cease to promote fast fashion brands altogether, or merely alter their way of doing so to align with the environmentally conscious image the university boasts.
Now the SU has landed itself in such hot water, only time will tell whether the university’s environmentally sustainable title it so proudly claims can actually be put into practice at future events - perhaps by promoting more sustainable brands or doing thorough research into a company’s reputation before choosing to partner with them - or whether it may actually be purely for show.
![A woman looking at a poster that reads: 'stop buying shi[r]t you don't need'](https://www.thecourieronline.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/instagram-@themininalistwardrobe-fast-fashion-150x150.jpeg)
