Gianina Turner joined the crowd at Emersons Green’s Sustainable Fashion Show
EMERSONS Green Village Hall was the setting for a special fashion event showing some second-hand style.
The Sustainable Fashion Show highlighted charity shop finds, upcycled and repurposed clothes, and innovative designs designed to make people rethink their wardrobe to cut waste and help the planet.
About 30 volunteers modelled bright and bold outfits on themes including casual and comfortable, family values, smart casual, “fruit salad” and handmade, in front of an audience of more than 100 people.
Some of the unique handmade designs from skilled members of the community included a jacket made out of a repurposed tent and a bodice made from chocolate wrappers.
The event was organised by Emersons Green Town Council in collaboration with sustainable fashion stylist Becky Barnes.
Deputy town mayor Bobbie Sunderland said: “It was a great way to inspire our creativity and highlight what we can do, as individuals and as a community, to reduce our impact on the environment.
“I loved the jumper that I modelled for St Peter’s Hospice, and bought it after the show!”
Becky gave a presentation with fascinating facts about clothes consumption in the UK, which is the biggest buyer of fashion in Europe.
Key messages included “only buy what you need”, and “think function rather than fashion”.
Becky said: “The power to make a difference lies in the everyday choices we all make.
“By shopping second-hand, we can give pre-loved clothes a new lease of life and reduce demand for new production.”
Exhibitors included St Peter’s Hospice, In Stitches, Fabrics Plus, Rio Wild Designs, We are Fruit Salad, Emersons Green Library, Becky Barnes Style, Bristol DJ, and Hives and Herbals.
After the show, people were able to talk to designers and exhibitors, and buy some of the outfits.
Town councillor Kelly Allen, who organised the show, said: “’Sustainability is a passion of mine.
“It was a complex event to organise, and I am so proud of everyone involved – models, volunteers, exhibitors – everyone gave a lot of time and energy to make this event happen.
“It was wonderful to have such support from the community, and the huge audience we had on the day was absolutely brilliant.”
The next event organised by the town council’s Climate and Nature Group is a clothes swap on March 1 from 2-4pm at the village hall in Emerson Way.
People can bring along and take away adult and children’s clothes, as well as costumes for World Book Day on March 6.
For more details visit emersonsgreen-tc.gov.uk or email bobbie.sunderland@emersonsgreen-tc.gov.uk.
