Fashion Hacktivism is a fundraiser for Dove Hospice & Wellness, being held in Auckland
Secondhand clothing is being celebrated and the art of re-styling and upcycling highlighted at this week’s Fashion Hacktivism event. The fundraiser for Dove Hospice & Wellness is being held on May 4 at Kings Plant Barn Stonefields (Mount Wellington, Auckland) and tickets are still available online.
Fashion Hacktivisim, hosted by Dove Hospice & Wellness, in collaboration with the AUT Fashion Department and sponsorship from Regal Drycleaners, Drapers Fabrics, and Cut Above Academy, is designed to showcase AUT’s ‘Fashion Hacktivism Goes Big’ upcycling project, which, in collaboration with Dove, focuses on giving new life to damaged second-hand clothing.
This event will feature a fashion show from the AUT student upcycling project, an interactive styling workshop by Jess Raffills from The Finders Life, a boutique preloved clothing sale, raffle door prizes, refreshments, and nibbles.
Fashion Hacktivism aims to inspire attendees to choose second-hand clothing over new and to consider upcycling and customising their clothing before it is deemed waste, while also giving support to local charity Dove Hospice & Wellness.
“I believe consuming consciously doesn’t need to compromise how you express yourself aesthetically and does not have to cost the Earth. I love working with people to help them discover how to shop for their shape, lifestyle, and budgets more successfully all with a sustainable spin,” says Jess from The Finders Life.
“We’re thrilled to partner with the AUT Fashion Department for this upcycling challenge,” says Dove Hospice & Wellness Communications Manager Amy Conlon. “This upcycling project with AUT gives an opportunity to inspire creativity and to encourage students to embrace a more circular design model. We are really looking forward to seeing what the students create.
“As well as being good for the planet, and your pocket, second-hand shopping in many cases supports local charities supporting your local community. In our case, our attendees will be supporting people for whom a cure or remission is expected with our ‘return to wellness’ programmes, and also patients whose illness is no longer curable.”
“AUT Year 2 Fashion Design students are excited to be partnering with Dove Hospice & Wellness for this project that looks at creating unique, design-led fashion from pre-loved apparel. At AUT we see the upcycling of good quality re-usable textiles as a perfect response to the overconsumption of fast-fashion products, so much of which ends up in landfill. Our creative responses give a distinct nod to the former life of the upcycled clothing, making the final result not only a unique fashion piece but also a conversation starter about clothing consumption and sustainability,” Lisa McEwan, Senior Lecturer at AUT across Fashion Design & Design for Sustainability.
Jess Raffills from The Finders Life
Images supplied