manager_1 Bromley – Around 20 needle-wielding seamstresses gathered on stools in front of a well-known clothing store in south London. They showed shoppers how to restore shabby clothes.
They encourage you to “stitch rather than ditch” and repair your clothes, not throw them away.
On Wednesday, the roaming street tailors set up camp in Bromley, London, under the shadow of Primark, an icon of fast fashion that is increasingly being criticised for its negative impact on the environment.
Their motto is often displayed on the backs of their folding chairs and stools, which are often stitched with brightly coloured threads.
Suzi Warren, an organizer, wants to spread awareness about alternatives to buying cheap and easily thrown away clothes.
She told AFP that it is not to say you shouldn’t buy it but to suggest you try to enter into a contract to keep it for as long as possible. She added that “we cannot continue producing clothes at such a rapid pace.”
Warren, who owns an online store selling clothing with funny designs, started the street stitching movement after learning about the dangers of fast fashion. Her Instagram account has gained a loyal following.
‘Meditative’ past-time
Madeleine Tanato, one of the many stitchers who worked on Wednesday, was busy mending a gown.
She said, “In recent years, I’ve realized that fast fashion has a really negative impact on the environment.”
The needleworkers wanted to share their joy with passersby, so they asked them questions.
Warren said that “Mending is very meditative” and is good for your mental health. All you need is a needle, a thread, and some fabric.”
Passers-by were invited by the QR code to scan and gain access to online tutorials.
This event was just one of many that were held simultaneously in cities across Britain and around the globe to celebrate the UK’s Sustainable Fashion Week. It took place before London Fashion Week.
Low-cost fashion retailers are often criticised for creating waste and pollution, as well as for poor wages and working conditions for their employees.
Further damage to the sector’s image resulted from the April 2013 collapse of Rana Plaza, a garment factory in Dhaka that killed over 1,100 people.
Reports also claimed that certain brands use cotton made in China by Uyghur Muslims.
Primark, in the face of criticisms, promised Wednesday that all clothing would be made from recycled or more sustainable materials by 2030. It also pledged to reduce carbon emissions by half.
Another British brand, Asos, committed on Thursday to more sustainable manufacturing and carbon neutrality for 2030.
