Bid Fast Fashion Farewell

on 16th Nov 2012

On the 13th December 2012 Urban Times is hosting a sustainable fashion charity event as a part of the Eco Fashion Series. The aim of the Bid for Better event is to raise the profile of ethical fashion, showing consumers that there are many sustainable fashion alternatives, whilst also raising money for the Environmental Justice Foundation.

The Environmental Justice Foundation focus on protecting the environment and fighting for human rights in countries where these issues have been neglected. One of their many campaigns is fighting for human rights in the cotton farming industry, where children are often forced to work in the cotton fields with little or no pay. They also work hard to promote organic cotton to reduce the vast number of 1-5 million cases reported a year of pesticide poisoning. We have chosen to support this charity as they run incredibly important campaigns in the fight for change within the fashion industry. Raising awareness of what really goes on in the countries where our cotton is grown will hopefully encourage consumers to start questioning where their clothing has come from, how it was made and by who. The EJF will be exhibiting a photo exhibition on the night, of the reality of cotton farming in Uzbekistan, to illustrate the importance of their campaigns.

Bid for Better is going to be an exciting evening with the main focus of the night being a silent auction. We have had 50+ sustainable garments and accessories donated by an exciting array of ethical fashion designers including; Made, From Somewhere, Lost Property of London, Atelier Mayer and Colin Leslie to name just a few. With exceptionally low starting bids it is a great chance to get your hands on a product that has been made to the highest standards, by workers who enjoy their jobs, out of sustainable fabrics.

Alongside the silent auction there are going to be various demonstrations given by thought-leaders in the sustainable fashion world. We have Leah Borromeo, director of the upcoming documentary, Dirty White Gold, a film that tells the raw truth about the cotton industry. She will be talking to guests about the film and some of the shocking secrets that she has uncovered during her research. Another of our demonstrations will be given by Clementine R. James, founder of Little Glass Clementine; she creates beautiful, upcycled necklaces from old pieces of jewellery, stones and antiques she finds, along with individual treasures that make her pieces exceptionally unique. Clementine will be making one of these pieces at the event, showing people how it is done and encouraging others to take a more hands on approach with fashion, recycling old items they may have.

To get you in the mood there will be an organic bar well stocked with ethical wine, organic prosecco, juices and an exclusive Urban Times organic cocktail. There are also 100 special goody bags, packed full of organic, natural and ethical treats, for those that win auctions and get truly stuck in at the event.

We are happy about the support we are receiving from all the generously donating designers, sponsors and individuals, such as Gillian from Style with Heart.

The event will take place at GV Art Gallery in Marylebone and will run from 6.30pm-10.30pm with the silent auction ending at 9pm. Please RSVP if you are able to make it. We look forward to seeing you on the night and bidding fast fashion farewell together!

For more information visit the Bid for Better microsite found at bidforbetter.urbantimes.co.