The organisers of this week's Good Clothes Show hope to bridge the gap between pop culture and sustainable fashion
We may all have committed fashion misfires at some point, and mistakes are commonplace for those who design our clothes too. ‘Strike-off’ refers to a sample of fabric on which designers test materials, techniques and colours before committing to a large quantity. Usually measuring less than 50cm in length, they often end up being ditched.
To Jennifer Droguett, Colombian-Chilean designer and founder of the London-based Anciela couture label, others’ mistakes are creative opportunities. The dress pictured here is made using fabric offcuts from a strike-off custom lurex jacquard weave, which have been stuffed with recycled packaging wool and studio offcuts. It’s typical of Anciela’s output as a business whose no-waste policy doesn’t get in the way of celebrating South American folklore and experimental tailoring.
Prioritising sustainability is “the only way forward” said Droguett. “When you set certain boundaries, you can easily make design and business decisions that align.”
What gives her hope? The swelling community of likeminded people in the industry. “It’s at every stage of the supply chain now,” she said, “from farmers and activists to makers and journalists, there’s a sense of urgency and willingness to do something.”
From farmers and activists to makers and journalists, there’s a sense of urgency and willingness to do something
Droguett is set to be in good company then showcasing Anciela’s wares at The Good Clothes Show, which kicks off at the NEC in Birmingham, UK, on Friday. The brand new event has drawn inevitable comparisons to the former Clothes Show Live, which ran for 20 years until 2014. Its mission is to inspire positive change in the mainstream market by bridging pop culture and sustainable fashion.
“As fast fashion grows faster than ever, so does the urgency for a change in consumer awareness,” Kara Mooney, the creative and event director, told Positive News. “Our vision is to demonstrate what people can gain from more sustainable fashion choices, rather than what they may think they need to give up.”
Five sustainable fashion highlights at The Good Clothes Show, by event director Kara Mooney
The Good Clothes Show is on a mission to show mainstream consumers that big changes are on their way in the fashion industry – and that these shifts can be embraced rather than resisted.
“We’ll Introduce visitors to the pillars of the circular economy,” says Mooney: “repair, rework and re-wear, through swaps, workshops, and styling sessions”. These, alongside a live directory of what organisers consider to be the key sustainable fashion brands, have been designed to impress that shopping for ‘good’ has much more to offer than a fast fashion haul.
Image: The Good Clothes Show
Visitors can expect to hear musings on the future of circular fashion from notable industry representatives. They include Patrick Grant (pictured): Sewing Bee judge and award-winning Scottish fashion designer, Clare Press: a journalist, author and presenter who launched the Wardrobe Crisis podcast, and Ginnie Chadwyck-Healey, a sustainable fashion advocate who started her career at British Vogue before shifting direction.
“We will share what ‘good clothes’ mean, and what people are doing to shape the fashion industry of the future,” says Mooney. “Guests can share in conversations about paths to better consumption and find their stride as they join the movement.”
Image: Community Clothing
“If you have buyer’s remorse from a weekend shopping spree, you can exchange that unwanted stuff for ‘new to you’ at our size inclusive swap party,” says Mooney. It will be led by swap pros Patrick Duffy and Zoe Sussmeyer and promises ‘a great time with some great finds’.
Image: Hong Nguyen
Mooney describes The Good Clothes Show’s curated marketplace as “the shopping destination of the year”. It’ll be a selection of the best vintage, preloved, upcycled and ‘good new’ brands.
Image: Maude Frédérique Lavoie
Visitors can hone their style or explore a totally new look with the help of a team of sustainable stylists. They’ll be on hand at the show alongside sewing experts, who will share tips for making our existing clothes work as hard as they can. “Or,” says Mooney, “become a designer for the day and upcycle a new outfit in our celeb-led upcycling workshops”.
Image: Alex Standley, stylist and founder of Luxe Leopard Lifestyle, is among the experts to be on hand with their top tips. Supplied by Luxe Leopard Lifestyle
Main image: a garment by London-based Anciela couture label, photographed by Olga de la Iglesia
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