The fashion industry will have the option to "go green" for Fashion Week by attending GreenUps - Sydney's monthly green drinks - on May 3.
The event will be held next Tuesday at Opera Australia's Joan Sutherland Studio in Surry Hills, and will feature talks from designers and stylists working on sustainability in fashion as well as a “fashion swap” activity.
The “fashion swap” led by Kirsten & Suzi from The Clothing Exchange, will require each guest to bring along four quality pieces to swap and former fashion buyer for Louis Vitton, Marcs, Esprit and David Jones and founder of The Style Bar, Tina Antarakis, will be in attendance to dish style tips on how to make the most of vintage.
The function will also see Indian-born Melbourne-based fashion designer Sudhir Swain, showcase his organic naturally-dyed collection and will also feature displays of textile by Samor Sanixay from Eastern Weft and gems from Opera Australia’s prop cupboard.
GreenUps, organised by a collective of creatives with backgrounds in art and design (Liane Rossler Dinosaur Design Founder & Dave Gravina - Digital Eskimo), PR and media (Jess Miller - Goody Two Shoes, Phill Stubbs - The Environment Show & Alistair Walton) and hospitality (Ben Ward Co-owner of the Falconer & Kate Bedwell) was organised to find “creative ways of tackling often complicated and dull sustainability issues”, according to Jess Miller of PR company Goody Two Shoes.
“We're inspired by European and American industries who have their own dedicated Eco Shows and designers like Lisa Gorman, Kate Sylvester, Stella McCartney, H&M and Akira who have make some great ethical and sustainable choices in their collections,” she said.
“In Australia, there still doesn't seem to be the same level of support for Australian designers wanting to make their practices more sustainable, and the annual GreenUps fashion event is about encouraging, celebrating and supporting local designers who are doing great things, as well as educating fashion consumers about making better consumer choices.”
GreenUps topics are to include, film, design, bikes, money, art and business, and guests will be treated to snacks, wine and beer from Love Grub and St Peters Brewery, and will also have the opportunity to win a batch of lucky door prizes on entry, such as tickets to Eco Expo, Inika products, tickets to the Opera and Ts from Moral Fibre.
GreenUps will be held on the first Tuesday of every month and entry is by donation. For more information go to: www.greenups.net.