SUST Success

Sustainable Urban Styles Today, a showcase event of eco and ethical fashion organized by AfSL, proved to be a fantastic success. Held at Bridgewater Hall on April 4th the show included outfits from local designers, fashion students, schools and community groups along with displays from ethical retailers. 

Four hundred people attended, filling the venue to capacity – the show was so popular some people who had hoped to buy tickets on the door couldn’t get in! With ethical fashion increasingly in the news SUST provided a common ground for people an interest in fashion and people with an interest in the environment. The diversity of people gave the show a unique atmosphere and a real buzz .   

Schools, colleges and community groups contributed their time to designing and producing outfits for the catwalk show. A selection of stalls at the event gave people the opportunity to browse and buy ethical clothing and products from local designers. It was an opportunity to find out what options are available when it comes to sustainable fashion; fair trade, organic, reconditioned and sustainably produced materials. A ‘Clothing Amnesty’ brought the idea of a ‘clothes swap’ to a new level, with those attending contributing items they no longer wanted and choosing 'brand new second hand' outfits for themselves.  

AfSL staff and directors came up with the original vision of the SUST fashion show, but AfSL volunteers made it happen. Without the AFSL volunteers, the show would never have been able to go ahead. We’d like to offer a big thank you and an even bigger CONGRATULATIONS to all our volunteers. 

Thanks also to all the stall holders, companies and organisations that contributed. And a special thanks to the Bodyshop who volunteered make-up and make-up artists and Mancat for volunteer hairstylists,  

SUST proved that eco and ethical clothing is a fashionable and sustainable alternative to mainstream clothing and showed AfSL at the forefront of a wave of change that has brought ideas of sustainability to the high street and high fashion alike. The event showed the fantastic potential of volunteer community led action.

We are holding a SUST Volunteer Party to says thanks to all those involved on Wednesday 31^st May where we will be showcasing the SUST DVD.

There are even bigger and better plans for next year's Sustainable Fashion and Arts Extravaganza - to get involved contact
[email protected]

More on ethical and eco clothing

Newsletter 4 contents page

Action for Sustainable Living, St Wilfrid's Enterprise Centre, Royce Road, Hulme, , M15 5BJ.

Email: [email protected] Tel: 0845 634 4510 Fax: 0870 167 4655.  

Page last modified: 14 June 2007