For the fourth in our series of Who Made Your Clothes Interviews in support of Fashion Revolution Day, John-Paul Flintoff talks to artist Tim Ridley.

As someone who makes a real effort to shop carefully, and who thinks a lot about where his clothes come from, Tim feels ‘it’s important to think about the little things that you do that can affect the world’. However, he’s well aware that asking people to start thinking about where their clothes are from can induce feelings of guilt.  John-Paul is keen to find out if Tim ‘can think of a way to invite someone... to have a think about it in a way that’s not going to make them feel bad?’:

‘It’s about empowerment - you have the power to decide. If you just indulge in the feelings of misery - that this person who made your clothes got paid awfully - that doesn’t get you anywhere. And I totally can see that. It is harder to get people to feel that they can make a positive change in their lives, but they can, and it actually would benefit them and this other person [the person who made their clothes]. Maybe if they concentrate on the exterior thing – the world rather than themselves, because guilt as we know is always a very internal thing.’

Fashion Revolution Day is happening in a mere two days time on Thursday 24th April. If, like Tim, you are interested to know who made your clothes, then why not come along to our London event at Designer Jumble, or the evening panel discussion hosted by John-Paul at Somerset House. If you can't make it then you can still get involved online or by attending one of many events around the world. Here’s the exciting social media schedule from the team at Fashion Revolution Day...we're taking part too - read on below to find out more:

Please follow Fashion Revolution and support the online takeover on the 24 April 2014. The aim is to raise questions and keep the conversation flowing. Join in and  get help us get #insideout trending globally!

FACEBOOK:
Follow, like, share Fashion Revolution Day – they will keep you updated on all that is happening around the world to remember the Rana Plaza factory collapse. There will be event coverage, news, faces and #insideout selfies, as well as stories from the Fashion Revolution Teams all over the world. Plus they’ll be highlighting best practice throughout the fashion supply chain as well as positive stories, examples, individuals and organisations that are already achieving positive change.

TWITTER Schedule:
Q&A with the experts - Tweet your questions and please remember to include #insideout and @Fash_Rev.

10am-11am @EthicalFashionF
Ethical Fashion Forum will answer your questions on "Introducing the Issues and Showcasing Alternatives."

11:30am-12:30pm @IndustriALL_GU @JyrkiRaina @IndustriALL_GU
IndustriALL Global Union General Secretary will talk about The Accord on Fire and Building Safety in Bangladesh as well as the increase in minimum wage in Bangladesh and the improved trade union freedoms that have led to massive new trade union organising drive.  The stronger the union, the safer the factory!

1pm-2:15pm @FairtradeUK
Michael Gidney, Chief Executive, Fairtrade Foundation will answer your questions on the subject of Fairtrade, in particular Fairtrade Gold (a key and yet unexplored issue in the fashion industry).
Also on hand to answer your questions on Fairtrade Cotton will be Mr GS Rao, the co-ordinator for Chetna Organic for their farmers in the Indian state of Odissa. Chetna Organic works with small and marginal farmers towards improving their livelihood options and making farming a sustainable and profitable. 

2:30pm-3:30pm @iewool
Leva Vilimaviciute from Greenpeace Detox campaign will answer your questions on the impact of hazardous chemical use in the textile industry on our global water resources and the role people power can play to bring about change. Did you know that hazardous chemicals are being used to make children's clothing? What is the Detox campaign asking of the fashion industry? Which brands have committed to Detox and which haven’t? Two years after the launch of the Detox campaign what has changed? What dangers can these hazardous chemicals pose to consumers?

4pm-5pm @sustfash
Centre for Sustainable Fashion answers your questions on the role of designers and brands: how can design inform sustainable solutions? What is the role of the designers? Why does fashion matter to the individual?

Also: FRD board members and experts Clare Lissaman @clarelissaman (ethics and Fair Trade), Lucy Shea @swishinglucy (CEO at Futerra) and Jocelyn Whipple @jocelynwhipple (sustainable fabrics and sourcing) will be available throughout the day to answer your questions.

Plus...follow ethical stylist Alice Wilby @alicewilby on Twitter and Instagram for practical advice on eco-styling and ask Zoe Robinson @TheGoodWardrobe anything you want on simple #SewItForward clothes mending techniques you can practice yourself - absolute beginners welcome! 

Keep up with us on Twitter and Instagram to see the ‘before’ and ‘after’ photos of the mending activity from our base at Designer Jumble in Westfield, Stratford.

Thank you to Tim for sharing the story of his clothes (and for filming the interview) and to John-Paul for asking ‘Who Made Your Clothes’.