Sustainable fashion week

Sustainable September

September is here, a new season, new school year and new fashions.  In the fashion calendar September means fashion week catwalk shows across the globe, new trends pushed onto consumers and new ‘must-have” items promoted.

As an antidote to this, September is now also all about Sustainable Fashion as a way of trying to address what the industry is doing to the planet and also to underpaid, undervalued garment workers.  A growing movement has been gaining weight across the country with “fashion hubs”, offering multiple events and workshops with conscious consumerism at its core.  In Brighton, Brighton Fashion Collective is organising a sustainable fashion event at the Dome which I’ll be taking part in.  I’m really excited to see what will be on offer - repair workshops, clothes swaps and panel discussions as well as bringing along my pieces to sell in the sustainable marketplace.

I’m hoping that Patchwork Park is part of a movement rather than a trend, and that the consumer continues to embrace this more conscious and ethical way of consuming fashion.  Garments made from repurposed textiles; tablecloth dresses, teatowel shirts, blanket coats and towel tops are all offering an alternative to buying brand new, but is it possible that in the future the fashion industry could move to a sustainable model of operating and fashion weeks will become a thing of the past?

It's hard to imagine as the industry is a worth millions globally, but could mending and repairing garments to prolong their life become more of a part of peoples everyday lives as much as it was in the 1930’s/40’s?  Will the consumer begin to value workmanship in garments once more and skills such as pattern cutting, embroidery and garment construction?  There’s every chance that people will start to see the value in these things again if events such as this begin to be regular features in our cities.  Maybe there’s a  way that the highstreet could get in on the act by offering alteration/customisation units along side shops and selling repair essentials such has mini portable looms invented for creative visible mending?  Could men’s clothes swaps become a thing also?  Having previously worked in the trend industry its interesting to think about these things and there’s lots to remain positive about.

Look out for my next blog to see images from the event and find out how it went.

See also:

@brightonfashioncollective
@sustainablefashionweek_uk

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