As the warmer days arrive, and we change to summer clothing, it’s a good time to think about the impact of clothing on the environment. With new, cheaply made clothing readily available online, it’s tempting to update your wardrobe with a click of a button, but how does it impact the environment? According to a study by Labfresh, each person in Britain throws away around 3.1 kilograms of textiles per year, and of that 1.7 kilograms of fashion waste per person goes to landfill. It’s no surprise then, that according to a recent YouGov survey many young people aged between 18-24 are now starting to shun fast fashion for more eco-friendly, pre-loved clothing. Over the next two weeks, we’ll be speaking to two independent businesses in Preston promoting sustainability and having fun with fashion selling pre-loved and vintage clothing.

“Fast fashion is responsible for so much of our pollution, wasting water and contributing to landfill,” said Emma Rimmer, who helps to organise Sustainability Saturdays at The Larder.

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The monthly event has been set up to inspire action, inviting a range of speakers including Philip Rainford, an orchard expert who will be talking about tree varieties and growing your own fruit, the Wildlife Trust, The Bee Centre, Preston Beekeepers, the Hedgehog Sanctuary, a butterfly conservationist as well as holding clothing swaps and second-hand clothing sales.

Aimee Johnson, who set up A Right Old Rummage, will be selling vintage clothing and fabrics at the event. Aimee started collecting vintage clothing when she was a child, visiting jumble sales, car boots and charity shops.

“As a child I loved getting dressed up, going from dirty jeans and wellies to wearing a dress and I’m still the same now, a classy dress one day, and ripped jeans and a punk t-shirt the next.”

Her vintage clothing collection ranges from the 1940s up to the 1980s.

“Clothing from the 1940s and 50s can be quite fitted and the attention to detail is beautiful. Vintage clothing doesn’t fall to pieces like modern clothing. There’s no need to buy new stuff, old clothing lasts forever and you don’t see everyone else wearing it when you’re walking down the street. It’s more unique and it’s got a past, it’s got a history.”

“More recently I’ve gone from wearing 1950s clothing to wearing clothing from the 1970s and ’80s. I love the geometric shapes of ’80s clothing. When I’m going out, I like getting dressed up, even if other people don’t. Someone might say I’m overdressed and I’d say ‘no you’re underdressed.’ People wonder what I’m going to wear next.”

Aimee sells items ranging from £2 for a scarf up to £50 for jackets, in sizes from 10-14. As well as selling clothing she also sells vintage fabrics, curtains, yards of fabric, upholstery fabric, books, and crockery.

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“I like a challenge. When I’m going out, I like putting together an ensemble, creating an outfit with an item costing 50p from a car boot and something else costing a couple of pounds from a charity shop. I’m not scared to mix up eras. I’ve always been versatile in my sense of style.”

As well as selling at Sustainability Saturdays Aimee will be selling her vintage wear every Friday at The Larder and sells items from her Facebook page.

Emma who helps to run Sustainability Saturdays tells us that this week there will also be a medical herbalist attending The Larder, “Zoe Wild will be coming along to make and sell herbal remedies and we’ll also have Nicola and Helen making seed bombs from bee friendly seeds and wildflower seeds for people to take away.”

Emma has previously organised fashion shows promoting pre-loved and upcycled clothing from charity shops and raising money for local homeless charities and soup kitchens in the process. She hopes to work with students from UCLan again in October, to bring another fashion show to Preston to promote sustainability as part of a week of activities at The Larder encouraging local people to reuse, repair, recycle and rethink, helping each other to help the planet.

“So many items go to landfill every day,” said Emma. “If we can do something to prevent that from happening, we will. If any members of the public would like to see something taking place as part of Sustainability Saturdays or would like to get involved and help, please do get in touch.”

The next Sustainability Saturday takes place at The Larder, Lancaster Road, Preston on Saturday 25^th June from 10am – 4pm. A Right Old Rummage will also be selling items at The Larder each Friday 8.30am – 2pm.

Follow The Larder on Facebook and follow A Right Old Rummage on Facebook.

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