GreenUps

When is it?

Tuesday 4th of May 2010, 6:00pm.

Where is it?

The Fashion & Textiles Gallery, 8 Hill St, Surry Hills NSW 2010.

What is it?

Sustainable fashion, it’s finding its ways onto the runways of New York, Paris, London, Melbourne and…though not (yet) on the official runways Sydney, there’s some great things happening, especially around the new Hill St creative precinct.

So as an unofficial addendum to this year’s Rosemount Australia Fashion Week, we’ve decided to celebrate sustainable fashion for the May GreenUps with a Clothing Exchange (for men and women!) and some excellent speakers.

Where (in detail):

• The Courtyard of The Fashion & Textile Gallery
• The Clothing Exchange will happen on Level 1 at The Sewing Room
• The Fashion Gallery is on Level 7

Time:

Arrive between 5.30-6.30:

You’ll check-in four items of quality clothes (we are a discerning bunch so if it’s wrecked, stained or mal-formed use it as a rag instead). You will receive a button for each item, which will be your currency.

The exchange begins at 7pm sharp.

Cost:

$10 per person, this gets you participation in the exchange, a lovely local St. Peters brewed beer or glass of wine, nibbles will be put on by our dear friends at The Falconer.  Sorry, there are no refunds on tickets. The cost of the ticket will cover food and a glass of wine/beer.

Speakers:

• Kirsten Fredericks & Suzi Edmonds from The Clothing Exchange
• Paula Rogers who will be speaking about Fair Trade
• Bronwyn Darlington  on ethical and Sustainable Fashion & Manufacturing
• Samorn Sanixay from Eastern Weft (a Laotian Weaving Cooperative)
• and Penelope Leonard from The Sewing Room who helped organise the event

About the Clothing Exchange

Calling all planet-saving fashionistas, vintage connoisseurs and op-shop junkies – the Clothing Exchange will change your life.

What is it?

A monthly wardrobe update that won’t burn a hole in your pockets! Just rock-up to a monthly Clothing Exchange event be it the Fashionista Designer clothes event; Gentleman’s only event or Fashionable Families event.

You bring along your (quality not grotty) oldies for someone else’s newies. T-shirts, jackets, jeans, skirts, shoes…bring ‘em along, not only will you breathe life into your wardrobe; embark on an adrenalin-filled clothes ‘hunt’, but you’ll also be doing your little bit for Mother Nature by not sending your old threads to landfill.

How does it work?

You drop off your clothes and receive a button – this is your currency in the land of the Exchange.

Our people check out the clothes – we won’t accept poor quality, so you’re better off relegating unwearable items to the rags basket. You go and get yourself a little drink and we sort the clothes – this usually takes about an hour.

Then…You enter the Exchange abyss; with racks full of wonderful vintage gems, perfect pair of jeans, dresses, t-shirts and more. You sift through, pick the ones you like and ‘purchase’ them for a button and a smile – bargain!

Who can take credit for this wonderful idea?

Kate Pears is who! Kate thought that $10 billion worth of wasteful consumption in Australia is too much (we agree). So Kate embarked upon her journey with the Clothing Exchange as a form of environmental activism that is lively, fun and excites people through the simple act of sharing.

“While some people start off coming to these events looking for ‘free stuff’, they are surprised be leaving with a sense of elation in seeing their unwanted clothes getting a new lease of life and doing something practical to solve a sustainability problem together’ says Kate.

Getting to GreenUps