This year’s sustainable fashion show, held at The Edge, was an enormous sell out. Presenting a student-led runway, the event raised money for St Lukes Hospice, as well as hosting a clothes swap shop and a makers market full of independent creatives selling all things from handmade jewellery, to crocheted frogs!
Hosted by the incredible social media influencer, Faye Wagstaffe, also known as @charity_shop_gal, she began by showing her love and appreciation for events like these.
During a brief interval, allowing the models to change into look number 2, Wagstaffe went on to raise awareness of the key issues involved in the production of clothes.
Producing many staggering facts, she quantified fast fashion’s damaged by explaining “300,000 tons of textile waste end up in household bins every year and we have enough clothes to clothe the next seven generations.”
These are just some of the terrifying reasons that convinced her to only buy through charity shops, something she has stuck to since 2019 when setting a goal to shop only second hand for one year – which has turned into almost 5!
Throughout this journey, she discovered her appreciation for recycled clothing, explaining how she “loved the freedom it gave” and how “it taught [her] about individual style.”
And this is exactly what the show emulated!
Each student model had prepared 2 outfits each, put together using only clothing from St Lukes, The Moor. They had free-range to pick out whatever they were drawn to and to style it however they saw fit, celebrating their individuality and uniqueness.
As each student strutted down the running, it made it inescapably obvious how fashion does not have to be high end, and that using second hand clothes is just as stylish – if not more unique.
Walking the catwalk in confidence, each look highlighting the individual’s personality as Wagstaffe stood to the side talking through who the model was and what had inspired their outfits.
Some were dark and mysterious, a stand-out look being inspired by Vivienne Westwood, whilst others were kept it comfy or went more glamorous, like a sparkly pink dress.
All the proceeds from the event were donated to St Lukes Hospice, a charity that plays a central role in the network of palliative care and support services in Sheffield. They care for people aged 18 and above with terminal illness and aim to alleviate pain and give them the best possible quality of life.
St Lukes, The Moor held their own stall at the event, too. Here they sold a selection of clothing from their shop – including the clothes the models wore.
Barley Taylor, Manager of St Luke’s, The Moor, shared how they lare changing the profile of charity shops” going on to express how “it’s amazing that people are now wanting to shop charity, too.”
In response to the event itself, she added, “This is great for the younger generation who are thinking about the environment.”
As for the Makerd Market stalls, each displayed a beautiful array of gifts that were hand crafted by each maker. For such affordable prices, the quality of them surpassed commercial industry standards.
One of the market sellers, Megan, held her first ever stall where she wad selling her own jewellery inspired by girlhood and polly pocket. You can find her on TikTok @thatznotmeg.
Generously, she explained her creative process, stating, “I reuse old necklaces or ones from charity shops, wash them and make new ones.” Sentimentally adding, “It’s been so nice everyone liking my things and calling them cute.”
Overall, the event was a huge success that promoted all things sustainable and a chance for people to embrace their quirkiness.
The mass production of our clothes has led to an immense amount of waste, which is why shopping sustainably is so important. Going thrifting is a freeing experience that is not only fun and can help level-up your style, but helps the funding of charities and saves the environment, too.