Sustainable Fashion Week is a nationwide movement taking place between 25 th September and 8 th October that aims to share skills, knowledge and ideas to promote more sustainable clothing choices. All over the country there have been events, talks, workshops, clothes swaps and fashion shows all trying to promote a different fashion system that is kinder on the planet. Here are ways you can help this sustainable fashion week!
Slowing down fast fashion - Sustainable Fashion Week!
Buy second hand!
This year, AWT have opened their first pop-up pre-loved fashion in Sparks Bristol, a new creative arts and sustainability hub in the old Marks & Spencer building on Broadmead in Bristol City Centre.
Keily Elvin, Head of commercial development at AWT said “ "We're so proud of how we've been able to create this pop-up shop entirely second-hand, from the pre-loved fashion items we're selling to the rails and mannequins they're displayed on.
This week we have also opened a second pop shop in the Charity Super market in Cabot Circus. Come and have a look around our shops to find yourself something totally unique that is kinder on your wallet and on the planet. Plus all money raised in our shops will go towards restoring nature across Avon!
Find out more here about our new shop and the charity supermarket here: www.charitysupermkt.com
Get mending!
Instead of spending money on new clothes, why not learn a new skill and repair what you already have? If you don’t know where to start you can always go along to the repair café that takes place every Sunday at Sparks Bristol.
Donate your old clothes!
As we transition into the new season, its a perfect time to have a sort out of your wardrobe. Take a look through and see if there are any items that are too small or that you don’t wear anymore and consider donating them. Your old clothes could be perfect for a second life with someone else and will help raise money for Avon Wildlife Trust in the process!
"We're always looking for more donations of pre-loved fashion items. If you've got anything you've been looking to pass on, you can drop them off at our collection points at Grow Wilder, at our Offices or in stores at Sparks or Cabot Circus!
Volunteer!
To run our new pop-up charity shops, we are looking for volunteers who can help us manage the store and donations. If you feel passionately about looking after nature and the planet and can volunteer some time, please get in contact with us at volunteer@avonwildlifetrust.org.uk
Mia, pictured below, is one of volunteer retail assistants who has been helping set up and run our pre-loved fashion stores. Without volunteers like Mia, we wouldn't be able to operate so thank to Mia and all our other fantastic volunteers! If you think you could be a volunteer like Mia, follow the link here!