Lauren Fong

In collaboration with Emma Stringer

In recent years, the fashion industry has experienced an explosion in fast fashion, which is fuelled by the increasing demand for inexpensive and trendy clothing. Unfortunately, this trend has led to significant environmental problems such as pollution, wastewater, and toxic dye. According to the Recycling Council of Ontario, 85% of clothing and textiles end up in landfills, and the average Canadian throws away approximately 81 pounds of clothing each year. Due to the industry’s focus on producing cheap clothing at lightning speed, this has also led to exploitative labour practices. Workers in many countries are often paid unethical wages and subjected to dangerous working conditions. This too, is an unsustainable practice that demands our attention.

“Clothes to Die For” is an interactive installation that aims to shed light on fast fashion’s detrimental impact on the environment and humanity. The installation emulates an ordinary window display featuring a mannequin wearing a dress made from trash and textile waste. The work integrates both physical and digital elements by using a motion sensor that triggers the video display as pedestrians stride by. Although the display appears to be a typical storefront window, the viewer is inescapably confronted with a deeper message about the harmful effects of fast fashion.

Special thanks to:

Emma Stringer, Denmark Morales, Sarah Pasquini and Valentina Egina

Lauren Fong is a Toronto-based photographer and digital media artist. Her curiosity and eagerness to learn have led her to embrace learning new technology, constantly seeking ways to initiate interest in her work. In the past year, Lauren has sought to explore interactive design using software such as Touch Designer.  She is often fascinated by works that challenge the viewer’s perception — in hopes of sparking a conversation or new idea, leading to possible solutions which could in turn, impact society in a tangible way.