Extinction Rebellion Staged a Funeral to Mark the End of London Fashion Week 2019

Activist collective Extinction Rebellion made a powerful statement about the fashion industry's impact on the climate at the end of London Fashion Week by staging a funeral procession outside of the shows.

According to Dazed, the group carried the coffins, which were painted black and emblazoned with "Our Future" and "RIP LFW 1983–2019" in bold white letters, from Trafalgar Square to the British Fashion Council building, the main space for London Fashion Week shows. They also made a quick stop at H&M, where a short speech was given about the environmental consequences of fast fashion. Protesters wore black funeral garb, including black veils, while others donned red robes with their faces painted white. Dazed has reported that the group has used the red robes to make a statement before and that the "mystical apparitions are the brainchild of Bristolian Doug Francisco, founder of the Invisible Circus, launched as a street performance troupe in the '90s."

Extinction Rebellion was very clear about its plans for a London Fashion Week–adjacent event — and its disappointment in the BFC's lack of action. The group had previously spoken out about their distaste for LFW and their wish for the event to end, writing, "We call on all citizens, including the industry itself, to demand an end to London Fashion Week and to put the toxic system of consumption to rest forevermore" on their official site. They also shared an Instagram post to further discuss their opposition to the fashion industry, writing, "Fashion is one of the most polluting industries and one of the most influential. Fashion should be a cultural signifier of our times, and yet it still adheres to an archaic system of seasonal fashion and relentless newness at a time of emergency. We will not stand by while the natural world is being taken from beneath our feet. We will send a clear sign to the fashion industry that business as usual is leading us to extinction."

The group spoke with Vogue UK about their plans for LFW, and the importance of making a statement, however shocking. "This is a time for boldness. We have to shift the conversation and you can't do that gently. Everything else has been tried. We've been talking about sustainability since the 1970s and it hasn't worked. Now, we have to do something new," said collective member Jessie Brinton. Teen Vogue previously chatted with a few members of the collective regarding their campaign challenging people not to buy any new clothes for an entire year, and some members appeared in sustainable fashion brand Stella McCartney's Fall 2019 campaign.

According to the Independent, the group also staged a few more protests during LFW, with protestors "gluing themselves to the entrance of 180 Strand and pouring fake blood on the pavement," and Vogue reports that the group also staged a "die-in" on the first day of London Fashion Week.

Teen Vogue has reached out to Extinction Rebellion for comment.

Originally Appeared on Teen Vogue