Hi, I’m a second year Global Development student at the University of York. As part of my degree, I had the opportunity to participate in a research trip to Ghana. Here, I witnessed firsthand the social and environmental impact of offshoring fast fashion waste from Western countries, and undertook research about the potential for this waste to be mitigated. I had never previously left Europe, and my wardrobe was not suited to Ghana’s culture and climate. I choose not to buy new clothing, so I mostly borrowed items from family members, and purchased any additional items secondhand. There is also a tendency to buy mini travel toiletries before a trip, but I use shampoo and conditioner bars which I took with me instead.
My experiences in Ghana have driven me to continue research into sustainable fashion, and have also fuelled my desire to continue making sustainable decisions in my day to day life. I therefore decided to apply for an international placement in Bruges, with an organisation called COSH! who are dedicated to sustainable shopping. I am excited to be starting this placement soon in my role as a fashion sustainability and technology research intern. This position will enable me to research sustainable fashion brands and inform consumers about sustainability, which I believe is essential to drive change.
I will be taking the train to travel to Bruges as sustainably as possible. Fortunately, Bruges itself is a walkable city, and I will be able to easily explore further by cycling, or by taking public transport. I will also be able to implement many of my present eco-friendly practices when I am abroad. For example, I currently aim to buy loose produce and am also lucky to have access to the university’s refill shop, where I can refill items such as washing up liquid. When I’m abroad, I’ll be excited to explore KarmaMarkt, a refill shop which also aims to be as local and organic as possible. I will also continue to use my reusable water bottle and flask, a practice which is very easy to implement.
A difficulty that many students face when working or studying abroad is having to buy new items such as bedding and kitchen utensils upon arrival, to save space when travelling. I hope to bring as many of my current necessities as possible, and will aim to buy any extras secondhand through the range of secondhand shops in Bruges.
I am excited to begin this new chapter of my degree, and build upon the experiences and skills I gained whilst in Ghana. My position will enable me to contribute essential research to help drive sustainable decision making from consumers, and I am eager to explore the range of sustainable shops that Bruges has to offer!
