Many of you who read this blog regularly will know that I am a life-long, card-carrying charity shop addict. Over the years I have also come to increasingly appreciate hand-made or customised items. So, when I heard about the Choose2Reuse fashion event, which combined both these loves of mine, I had to go along.
The event was held on 22 January in Harrogate’s Royal Hall and brought together local charities, designer/makers and fashion students to create a really inspiring show, which demonstrated how easy, yet important, it is to reuse clothing and other items, either straight from a charity shop or redesigned and upcycled into something new.
The fashion show was really good fun and I was seriously impressed with the collections that were put together. During the interval there was also the opportunity to browse and buy from a large selection of stalls selling charity shop gems as well as upcycled items. Here’s some of my favourite things from the evening.
Katie Horsfield
Katie designs and produces hand-made vintage clothing and accessories. Her collection for Choose2Reuse showcased four contemporary outfits, each incorporating recycled everyday materials such as aluminium cans and catalogues, and picked up the award for Best Designer Collection on the night.
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| Katie Horsfield's winning collection |
Katie Illingworth
Katie is a Year 2 National Diploma Fashion and Clothing student at Harrogate College. She and others from her course were tasked with combining ethical practice and design excellence to create an upcycled outfit using shirts that may otherwise have been sent to landfill. I thought the outfit she created made a real statement while still being feminine and wearable.
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| Katie Illingworth's design |
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| The designer and her model |
Rachael Roberts
Rachael is the young fashion designer behind Borne Again, which makes accessories and furnishings such as scarves, brooches, bags and cushions from shoddy - a material created from upcycled wool fabric. Her catwalk collection for the Choose2Reuse fashion show was themed Winter Wonderland.
She said: “I think that people are becoming more interested in sustainability and events like this one show how unwanted clothing can be as, if not more, desirable and fashionable as new high street clothes.”
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| Rachael Roberts' Winter Wonderland collection |
Petra Bradley
Petra has loved old clothing and textiles since her days working as a Theatre Costume Supervisor. Ever since then she has collected vintage fabrics, buttons and unloved embroideries, and these are the source for her handbags and accessories.
She said: “I find as many materials as possible second hand, and I love the thrill of looking through jumble sales and car boots. Local charity shops are my favourite source. The shop gets the donation, the materials are recycled and I can still find unusual, often “vintage” fabrics all within a cycle ride from my own house.”
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| Petra Bradley |
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| Petra Bradley |
Elsie May Clothing
Laura Footman is a Textiles and Surface Design graduate and was showcasing her new fashion brand Elsie May clothing on the night. This included the FindMe:LoveMe collection of upcycled charity shop items and fashion accessories made from reused fabrics and broken jewellery.
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| Elsie May clothing |
Victoria Footman
Victoria graduated from Leeds College of Art and Design with a BA (Hons) Printed Textiles and Surface Pattern Design degree. She designs surface patterns for furnishing and fashion fabrics, greetings cards, gift wrap, invitations and stationery. She also designs and make reusable canvas bags, brooches and t-shirts hand-printed and embellished with reused items.
For more information about the Choose2Reuse campaign visit www.letstalklessrubbish.com
This looks fab! Good to read about what is going on in the fashion and lifestyle world outside of London x
ReplyDeleteThanks My dear. It was v inspiring! Now all i need to do is learn to upcycle myself!
ReplyDeleteOoh love the Petra Bradley stuff. Gorgeous. Off to check out her site. x
ReplyDelete