Fair Fashion Show, Non-Stick Fit Event Report
Sat, 03/10/2007 - 01:34 — Ian
University of Hertfordshire, 27th February 2007
Report by Sarah Graham, Creative Director of Non-Stick Fit
As part of Fair Trade fortnight, the University of Hertfordshire’s Environmental team organised the Fair Fashion Show. As Non-Stick Fit is a clothing company who print only on ethically traded garments, we were desperate to be involved! I only heard about this event a week and a half beforehand, but the lovely organisers kindly agreed to Non-Stick Fit having a stall for the evening, and even featured our web address on the back of their programme.
The show, which started at 7.30, was preceded by a half hour Fair Trade chocolate and wine tasting session in the lobby of the auditorium. Of course, with the offer of free chocolate and wine the students were out in force! Our stall was set up just behind the Fair Trade chocolate stall, making Non-Stick Fit seem like an appropriate next stop for the chocolate connoisseurs. The half an hour before the show was spent handing out dozens of leaflets promoting our company values and ideologies; chatting to students, teachers and other visitors; and of course taking orders. It was very encouraging to receive such positive feedback, particularly from the teachers and mature students, with lots of comments like “it’s a really good idea” and “well done, keep up the good work”. I also received a number of constructive suggestions about styles and designs that would appeal to a broader market.
The show itself was very impressive. It opened with a Fair Trade video, about banana farmers in the West Indies, and the positive impact that Fair Trade projects have on the lives of those in the developing world. The University of Hertfordshire Student Union (UHSU) street-dance society then appeared, modelling fashionable clothes supplied by the local charity shops ‘Grove House Hospice’ and ‘Cancer Research UK’; not only did their outfits look cool but their street-dancing was absolutely amazing. The UHSU netball squad appeared modelling clothes from Fair Trade fashion website ‘Adili.com’ and cheap second-hand gear from charity shops; as well as Fair Trade organic pants from ‘Pants To Poverty’ – a truly brilliant organisation, started last year by University of Hertfordshire students, which can be found at www.pantstopoverty.com. In fact, there was an auction for one pair of these pants, which sold for over £40, after a fierce battle. Finally, I must mention the most striking and unusual piece in the show: a Bubble Wrap dress, created by UH student Harriet Eaglestone; maybe not ideal for a night out but very fun and quirky.
All in all, it was a fantastic inspirational night endorsing the power and simplicity of ethical living.
