You may have read about the Oxfam shop fashion show, which was a highlight of London Fashion Week recently. In a similar way here in Cheltenham, a new feature was introduced at the From the Ground Up Sustainability Festival in Leckhampton earlier this month, under the title Fashion Reframed. A runway show of upcycled clothing and charity shop fashion was one of the highlights of a highly successful day celebrating all things sustainable.

The British Red Cross and Mercy in Action, which supports families in need in the UK and the Philippines, both supplied clothing for the catwalk. What made the From the Ground Up fashion show even more special and rather different from the Oxfam equivalent, was how it used a group of ‘real’ people to show off the clothes, rather than models and celebrities.

There was everything from cool street style to elegant looks for the more mature market, all beautifully modelled by attractive local men and women of all sizes. Charity shops nowadays carefully curate their collections so it is easy to shop seasonally, by size, by colour or by style, whilst supporting good causes and slowing the advance of fast-fashion and all its environmentally damaging effects.

However, buying second-hand is not the finite answer to the challenge of re-setting fashion for the 21^st century. According to the British Fashion Council, the UK’s own clothing industry currently contributes £32 billion pounds a year to the country’s GDP, and it’s an area of business that we certainly don’t want to lose.

In my own wardrobe I work from a stock of new and second-hand garments, which are composed of vintage and charity shop clothes, as well as pre-loved items sourced or swapped between friends and family, and a few cherished hand-made or knitted pieces. I expect most of us do the same.

After all, there are some items that it just isn’t practical, appropriate or even possible, to buy second hand, and some special occasions which almost always warrant a new outfit, whether it be bought or hired. We also have a whole industry in the UK of talented designers, small manufacturers, craftspeople and producers of heritage goods that, once in your wardrobe, you will treasure forever and even pass on as family heirlooms.

A few years ago I acquired a beautiful hand-knitted winter cardigan made in the 1940s. It is exquisitely shaped and adorned with red and green festive floral motifs, and I now bring it out every Christmas to a crescendo of compliments. The quality and skill in its design and construction mean that it will last for many years to come.

Following on from the fashion show at From the Ground Up, I hosted a panel discussion about sustainable fashion. Ethical production methods, crafting skills, ecological concerns and diversifying into the promotion of pre-loved clothing, were among the subjects that were covered by the trio of fashion, clothing and retail experts on the panel.

Katie Brown of Mimmo Studios in Montpellier explained how the message behind her clothing and lifestyle business is sustainability, community and slow living, whilst Cheltenham born Natalie Rowland, designer at Lowie based in South East London, told the audience how heritage crafts, ethical manufacturing and organic fabrics are at the heart of her clothing collections.

Liz Gaffer, a Cheltenham based stylist, explained how she helps women of all ages become their most confident selves through re-imagining their wardrobes. Her work involves blending the old with the new and enabling her clients to see their clothing through new eyes.

All three of these innovators advocate a move away from fast fashion, and encourage women to see the potential for developing their own unique identity through making more informed choices about how they dress.

Sustainability, ethical practices, and wider green issues were at the heart of From the Ground Up, which is now an annual event in Cheltenham, and is volunteer-led and free to enter. The introduction of the fashion feature enhanced what was already a thought-provoking and inspirational day-long festival. I look forward to seeing you there next year!