Recently, Moorlands Climate Action welcomed the incredibly talented New Mills Fashion Activistas to Leek where they put on a brilliant alternative fashion show.
You may already be aware that fast fashion has a huge impact on the environment, being responsible for 10% of global carbon emissions. As well as that, it uses a phenomenal amount of water – it takes about 2000 gallons to produce a pair of jeans. It is very energy intensive and as lots of fabrics are man-made they have plastics in them which shed microplastics each time they are worn or washed.
The Activistas wanted to change people’s attitudes to fashion and how they source their clothes. So, they began to create beautiful clothes from charity shop / preloved finds. All the clothes are embellished with messages about environmental issues, exploitation of garment workers, along with positive ideas for change. Each outfit was modelled on the catwalk, accompanied by a commentary on its history that also explained the message it was showing. The main message was to buy second hand whenever you can. If you can’t, buy good quality, sustainable clothes- but buy fewer, look after them well and make them last.
Audience members were encouraged to come along wearing their own favourite preloved and upcycled outfits and talk about them during the show if they wished. Alongside the catwalk, MCA was also giving away Morsbags. These are shopping bags made from pre-used fabric such as old sheets, curtains, etc., which would otherwise be thrown away. Described as ‘sociable, guerrilla, bagging’, Morsbags also encourage people to use reusable bags. If you are interested in making your own go to www.morsbags.com. You can also follow the Activistas on Facebook - New Mills Fashion Week | Facebook