H&M has been making headlines this week after an interview that their first ever hijab-wearing model, Mariah Idrissi, did was shared by fusion.net. Idrissi addresses in the interview how respectful the company was, saying that H&M "asked how much in terms of neck I could show, but to be honest they were very respectful.” She also mentions that if anything needed to be adjusted they were sure to always call a woman over to do so. Featuring a hijab-wearing model is a huge step in the right direction for the fashion industry, but H&M does not stop there.
The company's newest campaign, "Close the Loop," encourages the reuse and recycling of clothes. On their campaign website, H&M encourages everyone to join the cause, saying, "Join our global fashion movement for a better planet. Recycle your clothes in our stores and we'll give them new life." Here is another powerful message from H&M, another step in the right direction for the fashion industry, and another groundbreaking debut, but H&M does not stop there. The company also encourages everyone, regardless of their age, body type, gender, religion, and more, to wear what they want as long as they follow one simple rule: they recycle their clothes.
The campaign video shown below features Idrissi, along with plus-sized models, an amputee model, and other models who are breaking all of the standards that the fashion industry and society have created together, and the message is not only powerful, but inspiring. H&M is changing the game in the world of fashion in almost every way possible. If others follow in the footsteps of this company and its Close the Loop campaign, not only will unrealistic beauty standards for men and women alike be completely demolished, but the planet will also benefit immensely. According to H&M's Close the Loop video, "Recycling one single t-shirt saves 2,100 litres of water." If that alone does not prove the importance of recycling our clothes, I don't know what does.
Together we can make a change; we can get rid of unrealistic beauty standards; we can take away the stigma associated with "used clothes," and together we can save the planet, one t-shirt at a time. H&M is changing the game, for the better.
To find out more on how you can get involved in the Close the Loop campaign, visit http://www.hm.com/us/close-the-loop.
