Charlotte Varcoe
FAST fashion is a thing of the past for one particular opportunity shop stationed in the heart of Mount Gambier.
In its eighth year, the Belltower Op Shop’s Recycled Runway initiative has received the green light once again and has already sold up to 60 bags of clothing to sewing enthusiasts.
The event – which aims to promote sustainability and reduce clothing waste – has also taken on a new theme for this year’s event, focusing on African Safari.
Event coordinator Leanne Dunn said the theme had also united a significant number of groups within the event.
“We are very excited about this year’s theme and we have lots of little surprises planning for the evening which will entice all the senses,” Ms Dunn said.
“We originally kicked around the idea of a 70’s theme but the idea of an African Safari theme came up and we wanted to do something completely different.”
Event founder Trudy-Anne Doyle said a number of youths had entered this year’s competition including the Girls Guide, Scouts groups and schools.
“We also have the Migrant Resource Centre and their sewing program who are on board and there have also been a significant number of youths who are joining in on the fun,” Ms Doyle said.
“The evening has really grown into a range of demographics in regards to our participants and our audience because we used to only really get those who were interested in sustainability but now we also attract the older generation, those who enjoy sewing and those who enjoy making quilts.
“We are also attracting a lot of the younger generation who are interested in sustainability and there are a number of things which really strike a chord with a lot of groups because the event has the fashion element, the recycling element and the social element also.”
She said the idea of the annual event was to try and address the common issue of fast fashion and promote reusing and recycling clothes rather than disposing of the items.
“There is a lot of waste in regards to clothes and we are also just trying to raise awareness around people’s buying habits because everything does end up in landfill,” she said.
Ms Dunn said schools were also participating in this year’s runway with Mount Gambier fashion icon Ashlee Lauren continuing her sponsorship and mentoring program to a select number of winners.
There will also be the annual unmodeled collection where participants are able to create things such as blankets, cushions or seat cushions made out of recycled clothing.
“We are really encouraging people from the community to come along because those who come along for the first time are generally shocked at how high quality the event is,” Ms Dunn said.
