Secondhand ain't second best

reports from TRAID's PositivelyRemade, a fashion event in London which demonstrated how charity shops can be a source of chic outfits.

Fashion showed its charitable face at Kingly Street's Tantra nightclub recently, when as part of London Sustainability Weeks 2005, TRAID hosted its colourful PositivelyRemade gala.

Committed to protecting the environment and combating world poverty by encouraging recycling at home, TRAID chose June 9, which also happened to be Reuse and Recycle day, to invite 300 guests to the packed chi chi venue where they were well lubricated with potent Fairtrade fruit Daiquiris. The evening opened with a panel discussion which asked "Can we be fashionable and sustainable?". During the course of the debate designer and stylist Karen Savage spoke of the thrill of finding one-off charity shop gems and Glen Tarman of MakePovertyHistory explained the detrimental effects of free trade on world poverty.

Suitably chastened, not to mention enlightened, the crowd was treated to a fashion show of outfits from various branches of UK TRAID shops and the latest collection of TRAID Remade, TRAID's customised design label. The re-cycled and customised ensembles were perfect for this seasons mix and match looks and hippy stylings where pattern and colour work best when thrown boisterously together.

Live music, electro-style, was provided by pink haired Gigi von Gigolo and her backing dancers. Wearing an Alice in Wonderland confection by Karen Savage for TRAID, her jacket came with a built in bunch of flowers and was worn over a vintage Laura Ashley dress and stripy leggings.

The evening closed with an auction hosted by comedienne Mel Gidroyc. The prizes, for those lucky enough to win were custom made - and guaranteed unique outfit - by an eclectic posse of the UK's most lateral thinking designers. The winner of Casette Playa, aka Carri Mundane's, offering went home with a slice of "cartoon couture and suvbverted sport 'n' streetwear for gutterfed club kids, neon dandies and kappa slapper princesses". Michelle Lowe Holder's successful candidate left with an outfit from a designer renowned for transforming everyday objects such as wallpaper and safety pins into peculiarly appealing collections, whilst the elusive Noki offered up his own take on Lady Grim Reaper Chic - scary mask and all. Other designer diamonds included pieces from Aluma, Junky Styling, Simultane and animal-friendly shoe label Beyond Skin.

The night was sponsored by Co-operative Group and London Remade raised £5000 for the Sudan Emergency Appeal which aims to alleviate the crisis that has seen 18,000 Sudanese people perish in the last 18 months.

Asked what she hoped to achieve from the evening Savage explained that the aim was to entice more people to shop with sustainability in mind. "We have seen tonight that secondhand is not second best and it's wonderful that something as whimsical as fashion can make a difference."

In other words, charity shopping isn't all boil washed jumpers and viyella twinsets. With a bit of imagination and dash of perseverance it needn't cost a million dollars to look it.

Credits:

• Event Director: Ceridwen Johnson.
• Show Producers: Susannah Dowse & Suzie Zabrowska.
• Stylists: Mariel Gimeno & Debbie O'Brien.
• Hair : Christian Wood using Tigi.
• Make-up: Louise Hinton using Elizabeth Arden, Sophia Knight using Dermalogica and Chiara Guizzetti.