Black Public Media Launches New Campaign to Combat Fast Fashion During New York Fashion Week

Black Public Media (BPM), a leading media arts nonprofit based in Harlem, recently launched the third installment of its award-winning BE HEARD series, focusing this time on the environmental crisis caused by fast fashion. Titled BE HEARD: #ShopLikeNana, the campaign seeks to raise awareness about the environmental damage caused by the fashion industry and encourage consumers to upcycle clothing, promoting sustainability.

Photo byPhoto by Genaro Servín

It premiered on September 9, during New York Fashion Week, the campaign is a collaboration between BPM and Big Couch Entertainment and is currently available on BPM’s website and across its social media platforms, including TikTok. The campaign is also presented in partnership with Paramount+.

The BE HEARD campaign aims to spotlight fast fashion's devastating impact on the planet, which includes significant water usage, carbon emissions, and textile waste, particularly in communities of color. According to the Ellen MacArthur Foundation, without intervention, the fashion industry could account for up to 26% of global greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. The campaign urges consumers—especially Millennials and Gen Z—to shift toward more sustainable fashion choices by shopping in vintage stores or rediscovering clothing they already own.

Denise A. Greene, BPM’s Director of Programs, stated in a press release, “We are excited to partner with Paramount+ to sound the alarm on the growing environmental crisis that fast fashion presents.”