Armidale locals will get the chance to learn from one of Australia’s leading sustainable fashion voices next month, as eco-stylist Nina Gbor brings a styling workshop and clothes swap to the New England region.
Thread Shed Armidale, a volunteer-led community group, will host Gbor on Saturday, 24 October. The event is supported by the Armidale Regional Council and the Armidale Uniting Church.
Gbor, founder of Eco Styles and a prominent media personality and international speaker, will demonstrate practical techniques to help attendees make more of their existing wardrobes. Participants will learn how to turn simple items, such as a little black dress, into multiple different looks, helping them cut down on textile waste and step off what organisers call the fast-fashion “TRENDmill”.
Dr Rachael Wallis, lead volunteer at Thread Shed, said the workshop was about challenging assumptions people hold about sustainable style.
“Sustainable fashion doesn’t mean boring or doing without,” Dr Wallis said.
She said people did not need to wait for the workshop to start experimenting with their wardrobes.
“Play, try different pieces together, wear colour combinations you haven’t tried before and look at what you have in new ways. Go into your wardrobe and give yourself permission to play with what you have. Being fashionable sustainably can be a lot of fun, and you can develop your own style by learning what you love, swapping out things you no longer love, and experimenting with new ideas,” Dr Wallis said.
While this will be the first Thread Shed clothes swap, Dr Wallis has her own secondhand shopping highlight to draw on.
“This is the first ever Thread Shed clothes swap, so I don’t have an answer to that one! But my best secondhand find ever would be a perfect black cashmere jumper for $2,” Dr Wallis said.
After the styling session, attendees can take part in a free clothes swap. Participants can bring up to eight items each, though shoes and children’s clothing will not be accepted. Dr Wallis said the swap worked best when people focused on what they no longer needed.
“Bring something that you no longer wear and swap it for something you love and will wear often,” Dr Wallis said.
Asked what she would say to anyone who saw swapping as a downgrade from buying new, Dr Wallis said it came down to what people valued.
“Whether you think swapping clothes is a downgrade depends a lot on what you value, and if you value saving money, the environment, caring for what is already made and the work and materials that have gone into existing garments then you might consider it an upgrade in quality, community building and conscious consumption,” Dr Wallis said.
She said the swap could also stretch a tight budget further.
“If your budget is limited, this is a chance to get the fresh items you need for spring for just the cost of entry, you might be able to swap items for those of better quality than you could afford new, you know you’re not adding to waste streams and you might even find something unique that you’d never get in the mass-produced, low quality choices available today,” Dr Wallis said.
Dr Wallis said there were social benefits too, though organisers were asking participants to bring only items in good condition.
“Besides that, you can bring your friends, learn new styling tricks and swap within your community, strengthening bonds, and enjoying a guilt-free psychological ‘high’ while knowing your budget and the environment haven’t suffered.”
“Of course, swaps depend on what people bring, so we ask people to only bring clothes that are good, usable and not worn out, something you might give your best friend, for example. Quality in means quality out. No shoes or kids’ clothes, simply because we don’t have the capacity to deal with this,” Dr Wallis said.
Registration for the clothes swap opens at 9:30am, with the styling session beginning at 10:00am. Tickets are available via TryBooking, with tiered pricing starting at $10 to support ongoing Thread Shed initiatives, and morning tea is included.
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