Fairtrade & Vintage Fashion Show 2011
The 28th February – 13th March 2011 was declared ‘Fairtrade Fortnight’, and as always our socially conscious students were stuck in organising fund and awareness raising events. I went along to The Fairtrade & Vintage Fashion Show 2011 to see how fashion and fairtrade were combining for a sustainable future.
Alongside a catwalk, there were several stands selling fairtrade goods, a live band and a DJ. Goods for sale included scarves, jewellery, dresses, and paper which had been handmade by disadvantaged or disabled in Tanzania and Bali. Neema Crafts and By Hand are organisations which support people who would otherwise live in poverty, in making their own goods to sell. As well as clothes and jewellery, Shea Alchemy was there spreading the word about fairtrade shea butter and its benefits for better skin – it smells and feels wonderful!
The vintage fashion show kicked off events to the song ‘Reduce, Reuse, Recycle’. The models had chosen their clothes from charity and vintage stores across Leeds including Pop Boutique and The Vintage Wardrobe. After the show we were asked to vote on our favourite outfit.
This is the winning outfit, created from The Vintage Wardobe in Headingley, modeled by Annie Aveyard.
The main fashion show followed after a DJ set from Stan SB. It featured looks from Shared Earth, Bishopston Trading and The Third Estate, a fashion forward ethical brand based in the Merrion Centre. They had some wonderful pieces including this print jumper.
I was also impressed to hear that Gear, our own University of Leeds clothing is fair trade. Now you can treat yourself to a patriotic, guilt free hoody!
You can find more details of the brands featured in this article at:
