THE DRESSEMBER BLOG

World Book Day was created on April 23, 1995 by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). Today, we celebrate the rich history of reading and the power of books to connect us. For World Book Day, we want to encourage you to read something meaningful. When it comes to anti-trafficking and ethical fashion books, we have a few recommendations for you.

The concept of dressing up every day of December in protest of human trafficking may seem a novel one. After all, you might ask yourself, what can a dress do? Dressember’s top two teams and their leaders are here to tell you just how far a couple of dresses can go.

While advocacy can be empowering, there are also moments where it can leave you asking, “Is anyone even listening?” When it comes to the fight against human trafficking, there are times when it feels like you are speaking to the void, which is especially apparent on social media. Have you ever experienced this? I know I certainly have. Back in December, thousands of advocates joined together from all over the world.

Publicly advocating for a cause on a college campus can feel intimidating. It requires time, effort, vulnerability and often a process of trial and error. You might be held back by questions like, Where do I even start? What if I don’t get much of a response? What if no one else cares? Fighting human trafficking can pose an even greater challenge in the context of a college campus.

At Dressember, we are committed to year-round advocacy. Though the style challenge may be over, the fight to end human trafficking is not. Being an authentic advocate means cultivating practices in your daily life that allow you to stay attentive to injustice and the vulnerability that puts people at risk of experiencing trafficking. This is a lifelong journey and we're here to link arms with you!

The 2020 style challenge may be over, but the need for anti-trafficking work isn’t. Dressember works to fight human trafficking all year round. This is done by raising awareness around human trafficking on our blog, providing resources to victims and survivors and providing an opportunity to join the Dressember Collective as a monthly supporter. Though the need is great, it is also important to rest.

We know you have shown up since the beginning of December for our Dressember style challenge. Whether you wore a dress or tie for this month-long campaign to help end human trafficking, you might have found yourself still struggling to meet your fundraising goals. Maybe you are still trying to raise money in your fundraising campaign. Not everyone reaches their goal in the month of December, and that's totally fine. There is still time to continue with your advocacy.

Attention, all advocates! We have reached the end of the 2020 style challenge, and we have just one thing to say: Thank you. You are all amazing. Thank you for participating in Dressember this year, for using your time, energy and creativity to take a stand against human exploitation and dehumanization. This has been one of the most impactful years yet, and we still have all of January (National Human Trafficking Prevention Month) to go. We cannot thank you enough. But there’s another group of people we all have to thank: All of the donors who responded to your calls to action.

If you’re reading this blog post, you’ve heard of Dressember in some facet. Typically, the first way most people get involved with Dressember is by participating in the style challenge or donating during the month of December. If you’re not familiar with the style challenge, every day in December, advocates wear dresses and/or ties to raise awareness for anti-human trafficking organizations. Hundreds of thousands of dollars are raised every year through this campaign, but what many are unaware of is that the movement continues throughout the year, and you can be a part of it.

Each year, thousands of advocates from all over the world join together in the fight to end human trafficking by wearing a dress or tie. During the 31 days of December, that dress or tie is intended to spark conversation about trafficking. With more than 40 million people currently in human trafficking, this style challenge serves as a way to educate communities and resource organizations that have been in the fight for justice for years.

Talking about human trafficking may feel scary and difficult. It’s a sensitive topic with a lot of misinformation surrounding it, so it’s understandable if you’re nervous to say the wrong thing while simultaneously wanting to help the people closest to you understand why this issue is important. That’s why developing a Dressember pitch with a personal touch can help you form great conversations with loved ones. Consider trying the following tips as a way to form and develop your pitch to explain what human trafficking is and how your loved ones can support you in your advocacy.

Although this year is a little different because of the pandemic, it doesn’t stop our team from inviting you to take part in Dressember’s goal and mission. Since our Dressember advocates are from all around the world, social media advocacy has always been doable. Working virtually and connecting with our partners and advocates is more relevant than ever.

Okay, so you want to join the fight against human trafficking. Maybe you’re thinking about advocating with Dressember and have heard about our style challenge, but you don’t really know what that entails. Look no further! Here are some common misconceptions (and facts!) about advocating with Dressember: