Cincinnati, Ohio – November 14, 2016 – Saint Ursula Academy recently hosted an event spotlighting “The True Cost” of low-cost vs. fair trade clothing items. The event, co-hosted by Indian Hill High School’s Key Club and Saint Ursula’s Catholic Social Teaching Action Team (CSTAT), began with a showing of the documentary The True Cost and concluded with discussion about Fair Fashion and an opportunity to purchase Fair Trade items.
The documentary examines the conditions of factories where cheap clothing is made, the working hours of the laborers, and the huge impact on the environment when these “fast fashions” end up in landfills.
From the makers of the film: “This is a story about clothing. It’s about the clothes we wear, the people who make them, and the impact the industry is having on our world. The price of clothing has been decreasing for decades, while the human and environmental costs have grown dramatically.”
Students from high school across the Cincinnati area were invited to participate in this event which encouraged students to think about who made the clothes they are wearing and how their purchasing decisions can affect others around the world.
Kate Backman, who was instrumental in planning the event, reflected on the way the documentary has changed her way of thinking about what she purchases. “The True Cost really inspired me to change my shopping habits permanently. I think the more people who are exposed to the truth of the injustices and atrocities that occur in the fashion supply chain, the more likely people will be to make changes in their shopping habits, and support ethical companies.”
Saint Ursula Academy is a Catholic, college-preparatory, secondary school for young women known for academic excellence and rich tradition. Saint Ursula welcomes students from more than 90 grade schools in the Greater Cincinnati area. The Academy is recognized by the U.S. Department of Education as a Blue Ribbon School. The campus, located at 1339 E. McMillan Street in East Walnut Hills has been the home of St. Ursula Academy and Convent since 1910. 86% of the Class of 2016 earned college scholarships totaling more than $22-million.
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Photo Caption: Saint Ursula Academy’s Catholic Social Teaching Action Team (CSTAT) partnered with Indian Hill High School’s Key Club to present a Fair Fashion event. Featured in the photo are the members of CSTAT: (back row) Caroline Waddell ’17 of Anderson Township, Therese Kondash ’17 of Green Township, Katie Strickland ’17 of Winchester, Carly Dunseath ’17 of Pierce Township, Emilie Kilfoil ’17 of Anderson Township, (middle row) Savannah Kleeman ’18 of White Oak, Sarah Geraghty ’18 of Western Hills, Brittany Shine ’18 of Hyde Park, Elizabeth Geraghty ’18 of Western Hills, Kate Bachman ’17 of Montgomery, (front row) Ellie Rueve ’17 of Hyde Park, Hayley Graham ’17 of Pleasant Ridge, and Emma Oaks ’17 of Western Hills