A group dedicated to making the town sustainable and reducing energy consumption is focusing on the unsustainability of the fashion industry.
Transition Town Bridport is launching the Bridport Fashion Revolution Campaign with whole host of events focusing on the impact the fashion industry is having on climate change and the amount of clothes ending up in landfill. Those part of the campaign state that the fashion industry in its present form is unsustainable ‘due to the huge greenhouse gases for which it is responsible and are greater than those caused by aviation and shipping put together’.
A spokesman for the campaign said: “Our incredible planet is being destroyed by our desire for fast fashion. The fashion industry is a major contributor to climate change.
“Clothing production has roughly doubled since 2000 and people are keeping their clothes only half as long - 60 per cent of items end up in landfill within a year. But there is hope if we choose differently, choose to buy quality and consume less, to recycle and repurpose, to love and hold onto our clothes, to choose sustainable, ethically produced clothes with clear supply lines.
“Transition town hopes to point out the problems and offer solutions to people to make buying choices and buy fewer and better quality, sustainable clothes.”
The campaign starts with a launch night on Thursday, February 13 at Bridport Town Hall to coincide with London Fashion Week.
From 7.30pm there will be presentations, film and discussions with a talk by Gloria Davies-Coates from Fashion Revolution.
This will be followed by the screening of the film, The True Cost, at Bridport Arts Centre on February 19, which tells the story of the clothes we wear, the people who make them and the impact the industry has. Tickets cost £5 and are available from bridport-arts.com
There will also be a ‘Love Your Clothes’ event at Soulshine Café on March 5 at 7pm when people are invited to bring their favourite garment and share the story of what it means to them. Cocktails and cake will be available and free tickets can be found at tinyurl.com/ry5plbk
A ‘Get Swishing’ clothes swap event will enable people to refresh their wardrobe at the Bridport Youth and Community Centre on March 17 from 7pm and learn how to repair, reinvent, renew or repurpose clothes at ‘Mending Our Ways’ on March 26 in Bridport United Church from 7pm.
From March 28 to April 14, take on the challenge of using local charity shops to recreate an outfit from London Fashion Week or design an upcycled outfit. There’s a maximum spend of £20 and receipts should be kept. Winners will be exhibits in the grand finale fashion show on April 24 and there will be prizes for the best entries.
Those aged 13 to 18 will be encouraged to work as a team to devise legal, age appropriate actions targeting the fashion industry to get their voices heard at an action design workshop on March 29 at The Glow Collective space off Foundry Lane from 11am. This will be followed by a quiz night and raffle at The Ropemakers pub on March 31 from 8pm.
The campaign will come to a close with a finale fashion show on April 24 at the arts centre from 7.30pm, which will also feature some of the winners from the charity shop challenge.
For more information, visit transitiontownbridport.co.uk
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