Taking place on Saturday 30th July to Thursday 4th August.
A wardrobe with a cause
Many people will remember the 2020 Transition Town Campaign ‘Bridport Fashion Revolution, which was designed to highlight the impact the global fashion industry is having on our environment. Three successful events in and Covid struck. So we are now re-booting our plans from over two years ago and are soon to bring back Bridport’s Fashion Revolution. Mainly based at the Lyric Theatre in Barrack Street this will include 6 days of events about how to keep your clothes in circulation for longer AND out of landfill.
Horrifyingly 60% of fast and cheap fashion, often bought impulsively and barely worn, ends up being thrown away. A family in the western world disposes of an average of 30 kg of clothing each year. Only 15% is recycled or donated, and the rest goes to waste. Then there’s the problem of fabric. For instance two billion pairs of jeans are produced annually, each pair requiring 7,000 litres of water, not to mention the chemicals and fertilisers for the cotton used which all damage the natural world.
So something has to change and fast. Responsibility lies with all of us – governments, designers, manufacturers and all participants to the clothing industry – ending up of course, with we the consumer wondering what we should now do. However, the word is getting round and people are beginning to react with creative ideas. There are many new web sites. Individuals and businesses are beginning to promote change and to give advice. We are encouraged to buy less, buy sustainable brands, buy better quality and think twice before throwing out our clothes. We could try to repair them, donate or swap them , or give more to charity. We can sell second hand online. Some shops even rent out clothing for that glam event.
Details about our events are being posted on Bridport Fashion Revolution’s Facebook, and Instagram page. Posters will be in the Tourist information Centre and listings will be given in the Bridport Nub and Bridport Radio’s What’s On page and in other local papers. https://www.facebook.com/Bridportgreenfortnight/
And always remember: The problem lies in excessive consumerism. We buy ten where our grandmothers bought two, and also the most environmentally sustainable jacket is the one that’s already in your wardrobe!
BRIDPORT FASHION REVOLUTION CAMPAIGN.
Our incredible planet is being destroyed by our desire for fast fashion whose industry is a major contributor to climate change. Clothing production has roughly doubled since 2000 with people keeping their clothes only half as long; 60% of items end up in landfill in under one year. BUT there is hope if we choose differently: choose to buy quality & consume less, recycle and to re-purpose, love and hold on to our choices… and still look good.
More details from Bridport hub listings or Bridport Fashion Revolution Facebook page, Instagram. All events free or donations unless specified
| Sat, 30th July,
1.30pm Buckydoo Square |
Stitch it Don’t Ditch it
Flash mob |
Market day and we are kicking off our week with a bit of fun. Bring along your banners or lightweight chairs with ‘Stitch it Don’t Ditch it’ on the back. And when the band has finished playing, as a group, smile for the camera and let the shoppers see our passion for loving our clothes and keeping them out of landfill. |
| Sat, 30th July
2.30pm-4.30pm Lyric Theatre, Barrack St, DT6 3LX |
‘Bags of Fun’ workshop
|
Join Georgina in a fun workshop where you will re-use materials that are past wearing and are heading for the tip, using embellishments, where you can design and make a bag of your own to take away. |
| Sat, 30th July
7.30pm Lyric Theatre, Barrack St, DT6 3LX |
Launch Night with two Speakers
|
Join us in a glass off bubbly, to listen to two great speakers on sustainable fashion: Gloria Davies-Coates works with the global organisation Fashion Revolution and will update us on their latest campaigns.
Jenny Moresetti runs a sustainable Fashion hub – Hawker’s Re-creatives – in North Dorset, offering sewing groups, teaching repairing, and upcycling clothes and charity shop rejects. We will see some of her creations. |
| Sun, 31st July,
10.30am-3.30pm, Lyric Theatre Barrack St |
Mending our Ways with Molly Alice | Molly runs Upkeepsewing, a service for both businesses and individuals offering repair and alteration services in addition to sewing manufacture. She will be offering us a workshop where there will be tutorials on how to mend your clothes, teaching you the basics. Or bring an item of clothing you love but needs some TLC and she will offer support and guidance in how to give It a longer life. |
| Mon, 1st August
9.30am-12.30 1pm to 4pm, @StudiOne, 34 South St |
Put Your Message Across with Fabric with Becca | What better way of making a statement than writing your message to the world on a jacket, a bag, a banner or anything else you can think of. Bring something to stitch. Becca has a big basket of fabrics to upcycle. Use her sewing machines, or if you prefer bring yours. You can learn to free-hand or how to appliquė on to your project. Book at www.studi0ne.com for £20 which includes a donation to Bridport Fashion Revolution |
| Mon, 1st August
3pm to 8pm. Lyric Theatre Barrack St, DT6 3LX |
Get Swishing -Clothes swap | Refresh your wardrobe. Are there things you no longer wear, but someone else might? Do you still use that low-necked top? You could exchange it for a jacket. Or why not change that all-in-one for a little black number? Need the next size up? Bring your nice but unwanted clothes in clean condition and swap them for something you like even more. |
| Tues, 2nd August
1.30pm-5.30pm. Lyric Theatre, Barrack St, DT6 3LX |
Funky T-shirt Workshop with Steph
|
Think before you buy – do you really need something new? Learn how to re-invent and renew your clothes. What many of us need is practical, easy to put together ideas for creating great wearable pieces from tired old clothes, or from a charity shop.
Come to our workshop and explore cheats and quick fixes which will STOP YOU THROWING STUFF AWAY. Bring an old T-shirt or top and let the experts – Steph of @stylevintageuk, Jackie from Bridport Market, and Eileen Haste from Bridport Shed show you their ideas. |
| Tues, 2nd August
7pm-9pm Community Shed Bridport |
Stitch it Don’t Ditch it
|
The first Tuesday of every month Bridport Community Shed opens for an evening inviting you to bring life back into your favourite clothes. There are lots of resources available whilst enjoying the relaxed company of others. Direction: follow the lane that runs down the back of Mountfield Town Council (DT6 3JP). The Shed’s in the yard on the right just after the gardens. |
| Wed 3rd August
3pm-5 pm
7.30pm Lyric Theatre, Barrack St, DT6 3LX |
Workshop for style and wardrobe advice
Sustainability |
Pauline Bishop – a My True Colours personal stylist……is a Wardrobe Warrior. Most of us wear 20% of our wardrobe 80% of the time, but still often think we have nothing to wear (so why is the wardrobe so full?). In this session Pauline will show you the principles of how to edit your wardrobe, and what works together so you can personalise and create more outfits with fewer clothes. Then only shop when you have gaps and DITCH THAT SHOPPING HABIT.
Later in the evening Pauline will explain how you don’t have to sacrifice style for sustainability. When you understand what makes you look good you can use what you already have ethically, environmentally, and buying well but only once. |
| Thurs 4th August,
1pm to 6pm, Lyric Theatre, Barrack St, DT6 3LX |
Grand Finale Pre-loved & Vintage Market | Having learned how to mend, upcycle and re-love the clothes you already have, we give you an opportunity to come to our Grand Finale sustainable shopping extravaganza with @stylevintageuk, Tina’s Retro Clothing, and The Ukrainian Clothes Bank. Treat yourself with a clear conscience that and celebrate truly sustainable fashion. |
