A Spring Fashion Show with a Difference

Monday 24^th April was the 4^th Anniversary of the Rana Plaza catastrophe in which 1,134 garment factory workers in Bangladesh were killed when their factory collapsed. They died meeting the demands of fast fashion in poor working conditions. In response Fashion Revolution, a global civil movement, is trying to clean up the $3trn fashion industry based on low wage economies. During Fashion Revolution Week we are asked to find out and answer the question ‘Who made my clothes?’ as well as to love our clothes and to want to make them last a long time.

So Chifundo UK that supports a sister charity Chanasa – a Women’s Enterprise in Malawi organized a Spring Fashion Show with a Difference on Tuesday 25^th April at Heswall URC Church. Susan Flynn, Chair and Founder gave an illustrated talk to explain how the idea of creating attractive sustainable fashion accessories and household products, using recycled denim and cotton mixed with African textiles, came about. There then followed twelve models with ages ranging from 17 to over 70’s who showed the audience good quality cotton clothing bought from charity shops that had been embellished in interesting ways to accentuate the design features by Chifundo sewers. ‘And Albert’ a Fair Trade shop in Chester also supplied some cotton and silk clothes made in India which were suitable for summer wear. Hazel Williams President of Heswall Honeys WI brought her professional touch to the compering. On sale afterwards were an amazing range of products made by the women in Malawi including lots of different bags and jewelry as well clothes to fit all sizes. Refreshments were served with delicious African biscuits. A record £600 was made which will be used for the mission of Chanasa to educate and economically empower women in Malawi.