Posh Swaps Blog

An interesting report entitled Well Dressed? and published by the University of Cambridge, Department for Manufacturing in 2006 explores the present and future sustainability of textiles in the United Kingdom. Most of us are probably aware that there are many issues surrounding the sustainability of the textiles industry in the UK but the report gives a really in depth and neutral look at the problems and identify the potential for significant and lasting change.

The report is highly relevant for consumers, media, business, education, government and campaigners and provides balanced evidence based information. Some of the key findings of the report in relation to the recycling of clothes are summarised below:

• The UK’s current behaviour in disposing of used clothing and textiles to landfill is not sustainable as volumes are growing.
• The second hand sector is growing and there is further demand so improved collection and sorting procedures will be beneficial in reducing waste and providing usable clothes to developing countries.
• Recycling is siginificant for materials with high impacts in the production phase.

According to the analysis in order to create change a consumer would:

• Buy second hand clothing and textiles where possible.
• Buy fewer more durable garments and textile products.
• When buying new products, choose those made with least energy and least toxic emmissions, made by workers paid a credible living wage with reasonable employment rights and conditions.
• Lease clothes that would otherwise not be worn to the end of their natural life.
• Extend the life of clothing and textile products through repair.
• Dispose of using clothing and textiles through recycling businesses who would return them for secondhand sale where ever possible but otherwise extract and recycle the yarns or fibres. 

Swapping, buying and selling second hand clothes is a great way of recycling and improving the sustainability of textiles. You can swap, buy and sell your second hand clothes for free on www.posh-swaps.com.

Frugal living is currently a necessity for many people but has also become quite fashionable as people find new and creative ways to live on a minimal budget. The media have likened this frugality to the second world war when rationing and shortages forced people to ’make do and mend’. John Lewis has even rewritten a wartime make do and mend booklet for modern times. It gives some great tips that still apply today as well as some new ones such as the economic use of the central heating.

This make do and mend philosophy, is not just frugal but also environmentally friendly and a real contrast to throw away society that has become so prevalent in recent years. Make do and mend positively encourages a reduction in waste and recycling in all sorts of different ways. Some thing that may be quite alien to many but that fits in perfectly with the current economic climate and make do and mend philosophy is making do with the clothes we have instead of buying new. Of course it help greatly if the clothes were great quality and classic styles in the first place.

A whole movement of fashionistas has began to spring up around the make do and mend idea. Clothes swapping, swishing parties, clothing repair and alteration, buying and selling second hand clothes and refashioning/ reworking old clothes have all become popular ways not just of saving money and the environment but also of creating unique, interesting and beautiful outfits.

 I have just come across yet another fashion label using recycled materials and clothes to make some very desirable designs. Sew Last Season is the label created by London based designer Elena Garcia. It is dedicated to finding sustainable solutions to the waste created by the fashion industry and recycling or ‘upcycling’ which describes the process of taking something that is being disposed of and transforming it into something that is of greater use and value.

Sew Last Season creates limited edition pieces from excess production clothes such as office shirts. It uses applie surface textiles and low impact dying to create trendy but individual pieces. It use local labour to create the clothes and also works with community groups like HEBA women’s project in Brick Lane, London.

At the moment the label only has menswear collections but plans a women’s wear line soon. They are also working with high street retailers on ways to upcycle their waste.

Whilst most people understand the importance of recycling and how it helps the environment, some people need just a little bit more of an incentive than helping the environment to get them recycling. There are so many ways that you can recycle now but did you know that you can actually make money by recycling?

Here are our top ways of making money by recycling:

1. Mobile phones - www.mobilephonerecycling.co.uk allows you to compare prices and get the most for your phone. Mobile phones should not be thrown away in your bin as the batteries contain hazardous substances.  

2. Computers and laptops - find out how much money you can get for your old computer on www.wastecare.co.uk

3. Clothes  - you can sell your old clothes on www.posh-swaps.com

4. Refashion clothes - you can refashion second hand clothes into something new and sell it for a higher value on www.posh-swaps.com

5. Make Jewellery - you can turn waste into beautiful and unusual jewellery to sell at craft fairs or on posh-swaps.com. Old watches and jewellery are a great place to start but there are so many other things you could use. Think creatively.

6. Turn your kitchen waste into compost, bag it up and sell it to your neighbours. Find out how on http://www.composting101.com/

7. Sell just about anything that you don’t want or need any more at a car boot sale, through newspaper ads or online

You just need to think a bit creatively. One man’s trash is another man’s treasure so before you throw something away, think about whether it might be of value to someone else.

Everyone is refashioning at the moment, obviously the word is getting out that you can get some really amazing clothes using second hand and vintage items. Oxfam has just opened a DIY store in its Camden shop with unique creations made from second hand. Top designer and styling Mrs Jones has revamped the store into retro heaven which has become an oasis of style for trendsetters and vintage enthusiasts.

Mrs Jones who is a stylist to the celebrities including The Killers, Kylie, Scissor Sisters and Goldfrapp has created a limited edition collection of only 30 reinvented Oxfam pieces that will be on sale in the shop and online soon. The shop opened on Saturday with a series of DIY workshops run by the stylist herself.

If you can’t get along to the store, you can always have a go at refashioning some second hand clothes yourself with their DIY tutorial on how to turn jeans into a skirt. You can also get some ideas from their sidewalk to catwalk gallery.

London College of Fashion is one of the worlds leading fashion colleges. It has a huge influence on the new designers and up and coming talents that graduate from it’s courses each year. It is really exciting to see London College of Fashion embracing recycling and second hand clothing with their short course in recycled clothing.

This course is great for anyone who wants to develop their own unique or individual style through second hand and vintage clothing. With second hand clothing being so immensley popular this course will give you the chance to get creative and also utilise some of your jumble sale or posh swaps finds to make some thing gorgeous.

The course will teach you how to make a capsule wardrobe from second hand clothes or clothes in your existing wardrobe. Following some research on current fashion and trends combined with your own inspiration before learning how to apply customising techniques. You will also learn aboout key skills like soft tailoring and pattern cutting which will allow you to alter items, improve the fit, change the lining etc. You will also get the chance to have a go at creative techniques like beading and embellishment.

The best bit about the course is that it is aimed at beginners so you only need basic hand and sewing machine skills. You could even make yourself some extra money by selling your recycled creations on posh-swaps.com.

Alternative Fashion Week is produced and presented by Alternative Arts and this year will be held on 20-24th April at Spitalfields London. Alternative Fashion week as the name suggests is different to other fashion weeks. It is open to everyone and free to designers to enter. It has an amazing atmosphere with 15 shows each day held in the vibrant fashion market.

Alternative Fashion Week has strong environmental concerns and actively encourages designers to use recycled and ethical materials. The number of ethical and eco designers increases each year. This years eco friendly and recycled collections include:

Laura Booty Cherished possessions, discarded nick-knacks, unwanted rubbish create glamorous dresses

Colchester School of Art & Design Recycling & reworking garments for men over 60

Cooltan Arts ‘Make Do and Mend’ collection of customised recycled clothing

Holly Dutton Bobbie’s Boutique Nostalgic collection using organic cottons, hemp and bamboo

Lu Firth Precious Mary Tailor made pieces using recycled materials

picture Laura Booty from www.fuk.co.uk

  The great thing about second hand, vintage and recycled clothes is that they all have a story to tell. In reconstructing the clothes this history is preserved but updated to give the clothes a very modern day relevance. Recycled and reworked clothes will always be very individual and one off pieces and this is also a great selling point.

 In terms of fashion and creativity this is great news. Recycling is one of the most sustainable ways of making clothes and adds interest in ways that clothing made from scratch could not.  The great thing about second hand, vintage and recycled clothes is that they all have a story to tell. In reconstructing the clothes this history is preserved but updated to give the clothes a very modern day relevance. Recycled and reworked clothes will always be very individual and one off pieces and this is also a great selling point.

Julia Barbee of Frocky Jack Morgan produces the most exquisite clothes by deconstructing recycled and vintage pieces . The dresses are fit for fairy tale princesses and incorporate intricate details and embellishment. She loves to use extraordinary antique pieces and old couture hems to add something really special to his pieces. Her formal training in sculpture shows through in the amazing gowns which have such amazing structure. The colours are almost always neutral, not detract from the interesting textures.

Who would have though that being Eco chic could be this desirable.

picture from www.frockyjackmorgan.com

I was really excited to see the collection for the Central St Martins MA Graduate show by Michael Van der Haam. I was really inspired by the mixtures of textures and colours in this collection. Most of all I was inspired to think of all sorts of possibilities for restyling second hand clothes in a similar sort of way. Admittedly this is probably a project for someone with advanced dressmaking and sewing skills and I am not sure that is a category that I would put myself into, but the temptation of creating a very gorgeous and completely original creation is just too much to resist and I am starting work on my first creation as I type.