ECO FASHION SHOW & ARTISAN MAKERS EVENT RETURNS TO LANCASTER FOR THE SECOND YEAR
Updated: Oct 12, 2019
Sponsored by Lush, Slow Fashion Lancaster - The Art of Fashion returns to Lancaster for the second year on 19 October 2019 at Lancaster Town Hall. The event will see a sustainable day market from artisan designers, crafters and makers; interactive workshops and a bespoke evening fashion catwalk, with models showcasing the talents of North West fashion designers.
The concept originated by Lancaster designer and seamstress, Gabriella Bavone, to exhibit the art of fashion in an eco-conscious style, focusing on highlighting how fashion and clothing can be sustainable. The event is supported by The Growing Club CIC.
Seamstress and concept creator, Gabriella Bavone said:
“Slow Fashion Lancaster was created to show off the North’s magnificent creative craft and talent – our event was the perfect chance to display artisan makers and designers, with an eco-friendly theme.
"Slow fashion is simply the opposite of fast fashion; the process of designing good fashion that is kind and respectful to the planet.”
The fashion industry has come under heavy fire in the last few years, as being one of the most polluting industries, with heavy resource wastage, emissions and high carbon footprint.
Chemical dyes in waterways, heavy landfill impacts from discarded clothes and textiles and the massive global issue of plastic micro-fibres having been located within rivers, oceans, food chains and just this week, have been reported to found within the human body. The Environmental Audit Committee undertook an inquiry into the fashion industry and sustainability. Their conclusions were that the government must move to end our throwaway society; to make fashion retailers accountable for their waste levels; government must speed up its consultation on producer responsibilities for the textile industry: action is needed now.
The Slow Fashion Lancaster event will showcase a variety of artisans, from daytime stalls and workshops, jewellery makers and clothing designers to traditional crafts like spinning and weaving. The bespoke evening catwalk will see fashion designers showcase their work.
Seminars during the afternoon will be delivered by prominent fashion academics and sustainability experts: Sass Brown from Manchester Metropolitan University; Professor Stuart Walker Chair of Design for Sustainability at Lancaster University; Dr Francesco Mazzarella from Centre for Sustainable Fashion, University of the Arts London.
Two workshops will be available during the afternoon; learning how to weave using a shoebox loom construct and a session on how to create a traditional rag rug.
The evening catwalk will present a unique display of sustainable and ethical designs, created by fashion designers from the North West and modelled by Jenifer Ryder’s Model Club. Musicians and entertainment is woven into the evening, along with a glass of fizz for attendees. There will also be an opportunity to meet the designers after the show.