Learning More About Being Eco-Friendly, At A Pre-Loved Fashion Event!

In bemix, sustainability is one of our core values, guiding us toward practices that support the long-term well-being of the environment. Leila and Miranda, our Eco Leads, champion these values, working with the bemix workforce to create sustainable ways of working throughout our organisation.

Earlier this year, as part of #GreatBigGreenWeek - a celebration of community action against climate change - Leila and Miranda collaborated with other bemix projects to ‘celebrate swaps’, promoting sustainable exchanges, from clothes and book swaps to skill-sharing at allotments and upcycling workshops.

When they heard about the East Kent Mencap "Pre-loved Clothes Sale and Fashion Show" in Margate, Leila and Miranda saw a chance to explore the world of preloved fashion. Preloved clothes, previously owned and loved by someone else, represent a sustainable swap by reducing the demand for new items, which require a lot of resources to produce.

Highlights from the Day

The day featured the inspiring “Through the Years” fashion show, a celebration of fashion across decades, accompanied by film, photos, and music from each era. The show kicked off with a bang, featuring a "Peaky Blinders" theme for the early 1900s. With Nick Cave’s “Red Right Hand” setting a moody atmosphere, models wore feather headbands, sequined dresses, flat caps, and suits.

From there, the show moved into the 1920s Charleston era, with flapper hats and tassels, and then into the 1930s, when glamorous Hollywood styles and fitted suits became popular. Each decade brought new influences, especially in the 1960s, when artists like David Bowie and The Beatles inspired bold new looks, and people were influenced by the American 'Flower Power' styles!

The 1970s featured a brilliant performance of “YMCA,” with the audience joining in singing and dancing. The 1980s celebrated stars like Madonna and Michael J. Fox, who had a big impact on fashion. By the 2000s, fast fashion was taking over, with styles changing quickly and clothing becoming more disposable.

Celebrating fashion through the ages!

Pre-loved clothes sale

A fantastic day, enjoyed by all!

At the show’s close, a powerful speech reminded the audience that "one size does not fit all" in fashion, emphasising the diversity of needs, abilities, and expressions in clothing.

Leila shared, “I liked how fashion has changed over the years. It was good to visit Mencap and see what they are doing.”

Miranda added, “It was really exciting to go and see what another organisation has been working on. It took them around a year to organise. The fashion show was really good fun. It was fascinating to see how much influence music and movies had on fashion through the years.”

Congratulations to everyone at East Kent Mencap for hosting such a fantastic event, and thank you for highlighting the beauty and importance of preloved fashion!

To learn more about our sustainability initiatives at bemix, visit our Being Eco-Friendly page.