Last week, my husband emailed me a link to a story that he thought my daughter might enjoy. She couldn’t understand why I was so excited by this project and amazed at how much money this cool idea had raised to help children.
The Uniform Project was started by Sheena Matheiken who had grown up in India and was required to wear uniforms everyday. She says that boys and girls would add their own style and flair to their outfits so it was something she was used to doing as a child. Now living in New York, she wanted to challenge herself to a new goal, to wear one dress for a year as an exercise in sustainable fashion. There were 7 identical black dresses, one for each day of the week. Every day she would create an outfit using layers and accessories, the majority of which were vintage, handmade or hand-me-downs. She worked with a friend to design a dress that was versatile, could be worn both ways, front or back, had buttons down one side and could also open up like a tunic. The material was a breathable cotton so it could be worn on the hot days of summer or layered throughout the winter months.
However, this uniform project was not only a test of fashion ability it was also a fundraiser. The Uniform Project was a way to raise money for a grassroots movement that is revolutionizing education in India. At the end of the year-long fundraiser all the money would be donated to the Akanksha Foundation to purchase uniforms and pay for other expenses for children living in Indian slums.
The video of the 365 days of the Uniform Project is a blast to watch. Seeing the different outfits and variety is amazing. But what is even more incredible is to watch the money count go up as the days go on and realize that the Uniform Project raised close to $100,000 in a year. Yes, that’s right this idea of fun and sustainability also brought in that much money.
I was smiling from ear to ear when I finished watching the video. I hope you will be too.
1,000 Mitzvahs 