Stella McCartney is a designer, a businesswoman and an environmental activist, but of the three, she says, fashion will always come first. “It has to, you see. Because the only way for me to start the conversation I want to start is by making a product that you want to buy and that you are going to spend your hard-earned money on. If the product is rubbish, then there is no conversation to be had. If I don’t have a successful business, then I’m an environmentalist who happens to be Paul McCartney’s daughter, and that is a conversation which lasts about three seconds. No one is going to come back for more of that chat.”

The Fashion Revolution is a global movement advocating for change and transparency in the clothing industry. The campaign targets all fashion designers, manufacturers and sellers — big and small.

The Workspace Collective, a small shop tucked into the back of the Cultural Alliance of Western Connecticut offices on Main Street in Danbury, features local designers, artisans and makers. It stands firmly behind the Fashion Revolution and its “Who Made My Clothes” and “I Made Your Clothes” mantras.

In a socially conscious climate in which more and more fashion brands are pledging their commitment to sustainability, such details matter. But McCartney has been exploring ethical fashion since she set up in 2001, when it seemed like an eccentricity – or even a nuisance – to many in the wider industry.

Mainstream fashion today is driven by the mass-produced, consumer-focused styles that are sold at alarmingly cheap prices. This is called “fast fashion,” transforming and capturing the latest catwalk trends for the general public within a matter of weeks. Brands such as Zara, Forever 21, and Gap are at the forefront of the fast-fashion cycle.