The FASHIONWEEK RESALE RAIL SALE
takes place this Saturday 19 October
at St Anne’s Cathedral, Belfast, from 10am until 5pm. Entry is £3.00 Tickets
available from Eventbrite here:
https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/belfast-fashion-week-sustainable-fashion-weekend-book-a-rail-space-tickets-71152193125
takes place this Saturday 19 October
at St Anne’s Cathedral, Belfast, from 10am until 5pm. Entry is £3.00 Tickets
available from Eventbrite here:
https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/belfast-fashion-week-sustainable-fashion-weekend-book-a-rail-space-tickets-71152193125
IRELAND’S LONGEST RUNNING CONSUMER FASHION EVENT TURNS GREEN
The owner of the UK and Ireland’s longest running consumer fashion event, Belfast
Fashion Week, has this season turned the event from being a promoter of fast
fashion and mass consumption, to an event focused entirely on sustainable fashion
and reselling vintage and previously owned clothes.
Cathy Martin said she had a complete change of heart after being passionately
taught about sustainability in fashion during a summer programme at Conde Nast
College, part of British Vogue, in 2017 as well as reading Dana Thomas’
FASHIONOPOLIS book.
“I’d previously worked in the textiles industry around 15 years ago, so had seen the
massive amounts of water, dye and energy used to create fibres and fabrics, but if
I’m honest I didn’t really consider the end game and the massively damaging effect
on the environment so much, until recently.
“I did some research and got myself educated on the pollution caused and some
really unethical production practices within the fashion and textiles industries,
(particularly some ‘fast fashion’ producers, but some top end design houses are
guilty too - the great Burberry burn-off is a good example here.) I also woke up to our
over consumption and the constant need for new. I’ve been there. I’m guilty.
“The rental and shared economy is booming, and fashion can and must join in here.
It is estimated the shared and resale fashion economy is set to boom in the next 3-5
years. The growth of resale — especially online with sites like eBay, dePop, HEWI
and Vestiaire Collective, among others — has been one of the biggest shifts in retail
in recent memory. Rental sites are growing too, as the shared economy starts to
make waves in fashion. And that shift shows no signs of slowing down.
“Events like our RESALE RAIL SALE, which will take place this Saturday 19
October in St Anne’s Cathedral, will help to increase awareness of the bigger issues
of fashion and textiles eco-damage, and help show how reselling/buying second
hand can help to balance out what’s been done and prevent further extensive
damage. I’ve been selling, browsing and buying on eBay and in charity shops for
over a decade, but want to help further normalise shopping second hand for fashion
and provide a platform for those who want to join me.
“And it’s important to say that I still love creative design and fashion, and will still buy
clothes. But I will do so more thoughtfully. I will check labels. I will purchase with the
planet and long term in mind.
“I’m delighted to say that we now have over 70 resellers taking part, including
vintage stores, charities like Oxfam and St Vincent de Paul as well as lots of
individuals selling off their own previously loved items, so I would love to see
hundreds of shoppers come along and shop sustainably with us.
“We have just this week confirmed sponsorship from HONEST Organic ® drinks,
who’ll provide complimentary lemonade and lattes for everyone. And we’ll also have
an honesty table with lots of goodies that visitors can help themselves to, in return
for a voluntary donation.”
For those wanting a lively and free hands-on, sustainable experience at the event,
there will be Stitch Up workshops running throughout the day, given by experienced
creative curator, Ciaran Doran and her team. After a warm up activity to show
participants the stiches they’ll be using, the workshop will take them through a step-
by-step guide to designing and hand stitching their own unique design onto a calico
bag using a wealth of pre loved fabrics and trimmings. All equipment and material
are provided and all attendees are encouraged to try some embroidery, share
existing skills and learn some new ones.
Ciaran, who regularly works with museums and galleries in both the public and
private sector, as well as libraries, charities and community groups or private
collections, like the James Bond archive said: “If you have a textile item that you
would like to work with, for example, a jumper, blouse or a silk scarf, we can show
you how you can adapt it and re–wear with a whole new lease of life. Our workshops
are fun and simple, and suitable for anyone from age 11 upwards. Plus learning the
skill of sewing and reworking fashion items means that we are being sustainable and
ethical in our fashion choices, which is good for everyone – and the earth.”
It’s fair to say that over its previous twenty-eight seasons, Belfast FASHIONWEEK
has always been innovative as far as consumer fashion events go. They had curvy
models leading the way on the show’s runways over a decade ago, championing the
early days of fashion for every size. Back in 2013 the team hosted a ‘Fashion over
Fifty’ show in association with AgeUK, at which handsome 50+ male and female
models modelled classic and edgy fashion with pride, way before other shows in
London made this a ‘thing’; then in 2017 Cathy again championed diversity by being
the first consumer catwalk to have a Downs Syndrome model take the lead on the
runway. That model, Kate Grant, went on to do a global campaign for Benefit
Cosmetics and a national campaign for River Island, among others.
Director Cathy Martin said: “So I suppose we’re no strangers to leading the way, and
like our other campaigns, this is not a publicity stunt nor a fad. I think if you have a
platform and a voice you should use it for good. And fashion needs to wake up and
smell the pollution.”
The FASHIONWEEK RESALE RAIL SALE takes place this Saturday 19 October
at St Anne’s Cathedral, Belfast, from 10am until 5pm. Entry is £3.00 Tickets
available from Eventbrite here:
https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/belfast-fashion-week-sustainable-fashion-weekend-book-a-rail-space-tickets-71152193125
WANT TO MAKE SOME MOVES IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION?
Cathy suggests trying to incorporate some of these tactics into our lives to have less
of a carbon footprint in our consumption of clothes.
We can buy from small, local designers who produce sustainably
We can organise rail-sales and clothes swaps to allow for fashion re-sale or
exchange
We can shop in charity shops and donate or volunteer there too
We can use sites like eBay, DePop, HEWI, Vestiaire Collective
We can use hire sites like HURR or shop ‘n’ share with friends
We can use our local alterations businesses to change clothes up for a
second life – or learn sewing skills ourselves
We can hire a stylist to help us shop our own wardrobes & create lots of
variations from what we have, to avoid buying needlessly
Fashion Week, has this season turned the event from being a promoter of fast
fashion and mass consumption, to an event focused entirely on sustainable fashion
and reselling vintage and previously owned clothes.
Cathy Martin said she had a complete change of heart after being passionately
taught about sustainability in fashion during a summer programme at Conde Nast
College, part of British Vogue, in 2017 as well as reading Dana Thomas’
FASHIONOPOLIS book.
“I’d previously worked in the textiles industry around 15 years ago, so had seen the
massive amounts of water, dye and energy used to create fibres and fabrics, but if
I’m honest I didn’t really consider the end game and the massively damaging effect
on the environment so much, until recently.
“I did some research and got myself educated on the pollution caused and some
really unethical production practices within the fashion and textiles industries,
(particularly some ‘fast fashion’ producers, but some top end design houses are
guilty too - the great Burberry burn-off is a good example here.) I also woke up to our
over consumption and the constant need for new. I’ve been there. I’m guilty.
“The rental and shared economy is booming, and fashion can and must join in here.
It is estimated the shared and resale fashion economy is set to boom in the next 3-5
years. The growth of resale — especially online with sites like eBay, dePop, HEWI
and Vestiaire Collective, among others — has been one of the biggest shifts in retail
in recent memory. Rental sites are growing too, as the shared economy starts to
make waves in fashion. And that shift shows no signs of slowing down.
“Events like our RESALE RAIL SALE, which will take place this Saturday 19
October in St Anne’s Cathedral, will help to increase awareness of the bigger issues
of fashion and textiles eco-damage, and help show how reselling/buying second
hand can help to balance out what’s been done and prevent further extensive
damage. I’ve been selling, browsing and buying on eBay and in charity shops for
over a decade, but want to help further normalise shopping second hand for fashion
and provide a platform for those who want to join me.
“And it’s important to say that I still love creative design and fashion, and will still buy
clothes. But I will do so more thoughtfully. I will check labels. I will purchase with the
planet and long term in mind.
“I’m delighted to say that we now have over 70 resellers taking part, including
vintage stores, charities like Oxfam and St Vincent de Paul as well as lots of
individuals selling off their own previously loved items, so I would love to see
hundreds of shoppers come along and shop sustainably with us.
“We have just this week confirmed sponsorship from HONEST Organic ® drinks,
who’ll provide complimentary lemonade and lattes for everyone. And we’ll also have
an honesty table with lots of goodies that visitors can help themselves to, in return
for a voluntary donation.”
For those wanting a lively and free hands-on, sustainable experience at the event,
there will be Stitch Up workshops running throughout the day, given by experienced
creative curator, Ciaran Doran and her team. After a warm up activity to show
participants the stiches they’ll be using, the workshop will take them through a step-
by-step guide to designing and hand stitching their own unique design onto a calico
bag using a wealth of pre loved fabrics and trimmings. All equipment and material
are provided and all attendees are encouraged to try some embroidery, share
existing skills and learn some new ones.
Ciaran, who regularly works with museums and galleries in both the public and
private sector, as well as libraries, charities and community groups or private
collections, like the James Bond archive said: “If you have a textile item that you
would like to work with, for example, a jumper, blouse or a silk scarf, we can show
you how you can adapt it and re–wear with a whole new lease of life. Our workshops
are fun and simple, and suitable for anyone from age 11 upwards. Plus learning the
skill of sewing and reworking fashion items means that we are being sustainable and
ethical in our fashion choices, which is good for everyone – and the earth.”
It’s fair to say that over its previous twenty-eight seasons, Belfast FASHIONWEEK
has always been innovative as far as consumer fashion events go. They had curvy
models leading the way on the show’s runways over a decade ago, championing the
early days of fashion for every size. Back in 2013 the team hosted a ‘Fashion over
Fifty’ show in association with AgeUK, at which handsome 50+ male and female
models modelled classic and edgy fashion with pride, way before other shows in
London made this a ‘thing’; then in 2017 Cathy again championed diversity by being
the first consumer catwalk to have a Downs Syndrome model take the lead on the
runway. That model, Kate Grant, went on to do a global campaign for Benefit
Cosmetics and a national campaign for River Island, among others.
Director Cathy Martin said: “So I suppose we’re no strangers to leading the way, and
like our other campaigns, this is not a publicity stunt nor a fad. I think if you have a
platform and a voice you should use it for good. And fashion needs to wake up and
smell the pollution.”
The FASHIONWEEK RESALE RAIL SALE takes place this Saturday 19 October
at St Anne’s Cathedral, Belfast, from 10am until 5pm. Entry is £3.00 Tickets
available from Eventbrite here:
https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/belfast-fashion-week-sustainable-fashion-weekend-book-a-rail-space-tickets-71152193125
WANT TO MAKE SOME MOVES IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION?
Cathy suggests trying to incorporate some of these tactics into our lives to have less
of a carbon footprint in our consumption of clothes.
We can buy from small, local designers who produce sustainably
We can organise rail-sales and clothes swaps to allow for fashion re-sale or
exchange
We can shop in charity shops and donate or volunteer there too
We can use sites like eBay, DePop, HEWI, Vestiaire Collective
We can use hire sites like HURR or shop ‘n’ share with friends
We can use our local alterations businesses to change clothes up for a
second life – or learn sewing skills ourselves
We can hire a stylist to help us shop our own wardrobes & create lots of
variations from what we have, to avoid buying needlessly