Last night (Thursday September 19) saw around 40 people gather at The Business Hive for local community group, Just One Thing Waitaki's evening of slow fashion.

Just One Thing (JOT) Waitaki cofounder and event organiser, Ruth Davison, thanked the crowd for coming and explained the concept of slow fashion.

"Slow fashion is about trying to move away from the very damaging fast fashion industry."

She said that mass produced goods not only don't last very long but are "often made by very exploited workers" and "becoming a massive issue environmentally".

Slow fashion advocates (left to right), Heather Machin, Blayde Forbes and Rachel Fastier look on with interest. Photo: Cara Tipping Smith

"The fast fashion industry is a bigger polluter than the aviation and shipping industries combined", she said and "piles of discarded clothing in Chile can actually be seen from space".

"Slow fashion focuses on thinking before we buy, understanding the impacts of what happens to the garments when we have finished with them and keeping our clothes in circulation for longer".

Slow fashion, "celebrates and promotes thrifting, visible mending, natural fibres and the joys of finding unique items and individual style by becoming a slow fashion advocate", said Ruth.

She introduced some local advocates - people and businesses actively embracing slow fashion principles including the Salvation Army representing local opportunity shops who explained how they contribute to community causes.

The Salvation Army is a vital part of our community, using charity shop funds to support local communities everywhere. Photo: Cara Tipping Smith

On display were examples of mending, repurposing fabrics, alteration skills and Waitaki District Council's Waste Minimisation team's Waste Free Waitaki Slow Fashion Guide (copies are available from The Business Hive).

Displays offered a variety of ways to embrace sustainability with a focus on slow fashion. Photo: Alex Regtien

Angela Gudex from Revamp and Revive showcased effective sustainable repurposing of textiles with reupholstered chairs, and transforming old jeans into an apron and a wine cooler (read more about her new business here).

Angela Gudex's reupholstered chairs (before and after). Photo: Alex Regtien

Wendy Simpson from Stitchcraft Corner introduced people to some clever mending tools and showed them how to utilise them for repairing clothing (read more about her crafting emporium here).

Zara Murphy was on hand to talk about sashiko, the art of mending fabric with beautiful stitches with examples on display provided by Natalie Carpenter.

Checking out one of Natalie Carpenter's sashiko items on display. Photo: Alex Regtien

Joanne Rose from Roseyjo The Alterations Lady, showcased some alteration techniques including how to sew in zips.

The evening also included a clothes swap, the opportunity to purchase pre-loved clothing from a range of local sellers, along with styling advice from local fashionistas Blayde Forbes and Rachel Fastier.

Blayde Forbes modelling an pre-loved ensemble from Alisha Hodges, Cinderella's Wardrobe. Photo: Cara Tipping Smith

Rounding off the evening was a catwalk where people could show off their favourite slow fashion outfits including a dress made from a tablecloth, a top made from linen trousers and trousers made from curtains.

Slow fashionistas showing off their favourite finds and creations including trousers made from curtains, a top made from linen trousers and a dress made from a tablecloth. Photo: Cara Tipping Smith

Just One Thing Waitaki founders Ruth and Ann Brown created the community group to encourage everyone to 'give a jot' and do just one thing towards becoming more sustainable (read more here).

Another thing they give a jot about is mental health and the evening was also a fundraiser for Life Matters Suicide Prevention Trust, to acknowledge Arrow Koehler's much valued contribution to last year's slow fashion event.

Clothes swap for all ages and stages. Photo: Alex Regtien

Any remaining items were taken by the Salvation Army team to distribute between local opportunity shops.

Ruth Davison shows off the almost completed, repurposed jeans-to-apron made by Angela Gudex (behind) as a display during the event. Photo: Alex Regtien

You can follow the Just One Thing Waitaki Facebook page to get involved with their monthly activities.

Find out more about Life Matters Suicide Prevention Trust here.

Wendy Simpson from Stitchcraft Corner using some serious skills and clever tools to mend cotton drill trousers. Photo: Cara Tipping Smith

Angela Gudex from Revamp and Revive talks about adding panels to create a better fit. Photo: Alex Regtien

Joanne Rose from Roseyjo, The Alterations Lady puts some zips through their paces for an enthusiastic audience. Photo: Alex Regtien

Want to learn some of these skills? You can. Stitchcraft Corner, Revamp & Revive and Roseyjo, The Alterations Lady all offer classes. Follow them for details (or keep an eye on Waitaki App's What's on Guide).

Fun trying on some great threads below. Photos: Alex Regtien