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This month, Second-hand September, we connected with fashion activist Amanda Butterworth from our  New Zealand Fashion Revolution team.  Fashion Revolution is a global movement that campaigns for a clean, safe, fair, transparent, and accountable fashion industry through research, education, collaboration, mobilisation and advocacy.    Amanda is the Country Co-Ordinator for Fashion Revolution, and is a passionate sustainable fashion advocate.  With a background in law, a successful career in Procurement, Amanda’s heart has always been drawn to fashion. Inspired while living in London, to support a more sustainable and ethical future for fashion, Amanda is determined to challenge the way people think about,  and buy clothing.

 

Q.  Tell us about your love for second-hand fashion and what does shopping second-hand mean to you?

My love for second-hand fashion started when I was a teenager. I used to spend hours at Savemart in the weekends hunting through the racks. I loved the compliments I would get for the unique pieces I was wearing, and I definitely loved a bargain! In recent years I have got really into my nana’s closet. She has some fabulous pieces, all fantastic quality including gorgeous dresses and wool suits she brought out from Ireland over 40 years ago! Quite often someone will say they love what I’m wearing, and I get to say “thanks, it’s my nana’s.” She always gives me a smile and a wink when she sees me wearing her clothes and it feels special to be able to give the clothes that she felt great in, a new life. I love the thrill of finding a really great item. My favourite piece to date is a hand painted ‘Oscar de la Renta’ silk scarf. 

 Q.  Fashion Revolution New Zealand is part of a global movement calling for a fairer fashion industry with a focus on people, planet, and profit in equal measures.  It is well known that one way to avoid supporting ‘fast fashion’ is by choosing to buy second-hand and to love your clothing longer #lovedclotheslast.    What is the Fashion Revolution team currently doing to raise awareness for the value second-hand clothing provides over fast fashion? How could second-hand fashion companies, for example,  Dove Hospice, become involved?

At Fashion Revolution NZ, we love to hear the stories behind people’s clothing. We encourage everyone to share their #clothinglovestory as part of our #lovedclotheslast campaign.  We were delighted with the number of people involved with us during ‘Fashion Revolution Week’ in April.  Second-hand September is another opportunity to share stories and it doesn’t have to be limited to campaigns – we love to share stories all year round!  We organised a clothing swap, another great way to share clothes within the community, and we plan to hold more of these in the future together with a second-hand clothing market. We’d love to see Dove Hospice at one of these events in the future. We encourage everyone to shop second-hand, care for their clothing and wear, wear, wear, again and again!

Fashion Revolution

Q.  As the climate crisis escalates at an alarming speed, brands are now looking to go beyond being ‘sustainable’ and are embracing regenerative fashion.  We consider the act of buying second-hand clothing from Dove Hospice as regenerative.  When choosing to shop at Dove Hospice, this supports those in need through holistic therapy and supports those suffering from a life-threatening illness.  In essence, a process of regenerating health. 

Would you agree with this parallel and what are Fashion Revolution’s views on regenerative fashion?

A lot of fashion brands have been getting by with just doing “less harm”, but consumers are starting to demand more (and so they should). It’s not enough to just do less harm, we need fashion brands to actively do good – to have a positive impact. Dove Hospice is a great example of that. By keeping clothing in rotation, Dove Hospice is helping fashion to do less harm, but it’s also actively doing good by keeping clothing in rotation and out of landfill. And the great support that Dove Hospice offers to local communities is a truly great impact. Fashion doesn’t have to be destructive – it can be beautiful and regenerative.  

Q.  How do we find Fashion Revolution, and what would ‘getting involved’ look like?

Getting involved can look like many things – simply by choosing to shop second-hand and wearing your clothes repeatedly you’re part of the Fashion Revolution! Come along and attend one of our events or even organise your own Fashion Revolution event in your city (get in touch to ask us how).  You can also find us on Instagram, Facebook or visit https://www.fashionrevolution.org/oceania/new-zealand/ to check out the team and our events page. 

 

Amanda Butterworth “wearing my nana’s dress”
STITCH_IT_GRAPHIC

The Stitch It workshop series has officially launched, and we couldn’t be more thrilled about the overwhelming response we received for our first event of 2023. In collaboration with Fashion Revolution New Zealand and with the generous sponsorship of The Fabric Store, we gathered together at Brothers Beer Orakei in Auckland for a day filled with creativity, learning, and community spirit.

The primary goal of Stitch It is to empower individuals to extend the lifespan of their clothing through the mastery of core skills in mending and upcycling. By equipping ourselves with these valuable techniques, we can reduce waste, save money, and make a positive impact on our local environment. Furthermore, all the proceeds from the Stitch It workshop series go towards supporting the essential services provided by Dove Hospice & Wellness, which are available to the public free of charge. It’s a win-win situation that allows us to contribute to a worthy cause while enriching our own lives.

During our first workshop, attendees had the opportunity to participate in engaging tutorials led by skilled instructors. From learning core hand-sewing stitches to discovering the art of mending seams, sewing buttons, darning socks, patching holes, and even covering stains with beautiful embroidery, participants gained practical knowledge that they can apply to their clothing repair endeavors. As a special treat, we have prepared a snippet from the workshop—an illustration guide on “How to Sew a Button” for you to enjoy.

At Dove’s Distribution Centre, where we process an average of 6,000 clothing items per week, we have witnessed first-hand the challenges posed by the current fast fashion landscape. The market is flooded with inexpensive garments that often encourage a culture of disposability, leading to excessive waste. To combat this trend, we believe in the power of repairing and caring for our clothes. By investing time and effort into mending items, we can increase their longevity, reduce the resources needed for their production, and ultimately minimize their environmental impact. When donated clothing is repaired and well-maintained prior to donation, it not only enhances its value but also ensures that it finds a new home where it will be cherished and utilized for longer.

Looking ahead, we are excited to announce that we are already in the planning stages for our next three workshops. Mark your calendars for June 15th, September 21st, and November 30th as we delve into different aspects of clothing repair and upcycling. The upcoming workshops will focus on alterations, machine sewing and upcycling, and refreshing your wardrobe, respectively. In addition to the hands-on tutorials, each workshop will offer a delightful experience with refreshments, nibbles, inspiring guest speakers, and a digital take-home pack filled with valuable resources.

If the Stitch It workshop series resonates with you and you’d love to be a part of this transformative journey, we encourage you to secure your spot by visiting our Eventbrite page for Stitch It (workshop no.2). Hurry and grab your tickets before they sell out! Together, let’s embrace the power of mending, nurturing our clothes, and fostering a more sustainable approach to fashion.

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