Southwell mums to host Southwell Swishing event to promote stop clothing waste

Two fashionista mums who started a sustainable clothing business are launching an event dedicated to saving clothing waste.

Sarah Rockley and Lisa Holland co-founded the sustainable fashion brand and occasion wear rental service ‘Conscious Closet’ in 2019.

They met at the gates of Lowe’s Wong Junior School in Southwell. With Sarah’s background in fashion as a fashion designer and Nottingham Trent University fashion lecturer and Lisa running her own textiles agency, they decided to join forces and start the business.

Sarah said: “We started the business as both came from the fashion industry, so it was important to spread the word about more sustainable choices in fashion.

“We want to promote a more mindful approach to your wardrobe.

“The aim is to educate people to buy better, wear longer, and to question why something might be super cheap.”

On Friday March 28, the duo is hosting a Southwell Swishing, an event where women can go and swap the clothes they no longer wear for other garments.

The event will be taking place at Trebeck Hall, Bishops Drive, Southwell from 7pm to 9pm. Guests will receive a welcome drink and trend presentation and seasonal styling advice with their ticket.

Lisa added: “They are great community events and obviously save clothing waste and landfill.

“People thank us for learning more about the fashion industry and how to shop and swap more sustainably. We also present key trends and styling tips for the season to try and take the fear out of building your wardrobe.”

On the day, women can bring up to 10 items of unworn clothes, still in good condition, and at 7pm the talks will begin to then be followed by some ‘swishing’.

The tickets are available at https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/o/conscious-closet-35216017533.

The duo concluded: “Waste through clothing disposal and fast fashion over-consumption.

“Added to this the industry has been impacting people and the planet in negative ways for too long.

“Following the disaster in Bangladesh April 2013, when the Rana Plaza factory collapsed killing more than 1,000 machinists - all producing for our cheap high street stores and working in appalling conditions - it was time for the industry to wake up.

“Although slow progress is being made a lot of this is through educating the consumer and inspiring people to help in every way.

“People react so well at the events and promise to think more carefully of what they buy and where they buy. This is important to us as we spread the word.

“As our mission statement claims — we are two women who love fashion but loathe waste.”