WHAT COULD A SUSTAINABLE HIGH STREET LOOK LIKE?
More than two tonnes of clothing are bought each minute in the UK producing nearly 50 tonnes of carbon emissions (Oxfam, 2019). The UK throws away more clothes than anywhere in Europe; much of which is exported – only 10% donated to charity shops is sold by them (Greenpeace UK, 2023). With 39,000 tonnes of clothing each year ending up in the Atacama Desert, we all need to act to invoke a change. (Ellen Mac Arthur Foundation) As local Bristolians, it is so exciting for us to see some sustainable options throughout the Bristol Shopping Quarter. The most sustainable wardrobe is one where you continue re-wearing and caring for the pieces you already own and love!
Opening soon, will be our pop-up Repair Café in Beyond Retro (3rd, 10th, 17th, 24th November 2-5pm). We will be offering great value minor repairs with a 100% discount for those on benefits to make sure this service is accessible to all. Stay and watch your garments be repaired so that you can pick up basic skills that you can translate. Help tackle over-consumption and bring your basic mends along.
Prior is a great store that challenges what the traditional ‘shop’ needs to be on our high streets. Starting from a small shop in Old Market, Beck now stocks 150 independent artists, with 70% of those being based in Bristol. It’s not just a great place to buy sustainable brands. Here there is also a refill station for your household toiletries, an exhibition space and a vast amount of workshops with something for everyone. Prior is a space where “everyone shares information to make better choices”, Beck, the Founder. Upcoming workshops include mural painting, scent blending and candle making, make your own macramé earring. Be sure to check out the full programme on the website.
This year we set up a sustainable clothing hub with the Global Goals Centre (GGC) and multiple Bristol organisations. The GGC has the meanwhile use of the former M&S building in Bristol’s shopping district to create ‘Sparks’- an alternative department store/community engagement space. Re_Thrindle’s workshop space is the perfect place to start your sustainability journey and build on any mending skills. Here you can book in to learn the basics of mending, knitted repairs and visible mending.
Once you’ve learnt how to mend your own pieces, you’ll need to get some tools! Head to Fabric Land or Craft & More for all your haberdashery needs. These stores are not specifically sustainable in focus though, so please make sure you are making informed choices such as choosing wooden knitted needles over plastic and avoiding plastic fibres where possible.
Looking for something more than a basic mend? Needle & Thread are the go-to choice for your tailoring and alteration needs. Located in The Arcade, they offer bespoke services at reasonable pricing. Perfect for giving a piece that no longer fits you a new lease of life!
Selling or trading pieces at the Clothing X Change is a great way to promote a circular fashion economy. Open 7 days a week, you can sell or trade pieces you no longer wear for some fun vintage gems. Please remember that anything you bring in to trade or sell goes straight out onto the shop floor, so must be in great condition.
We also spotted Horological Underground in The Arcade. Head here if you have a watch in need of repair, and they are sure to help out. Timpsons is another go-to for accessory repairs such as shoes and jewellery. We need to keep these items in circulation too! Another new spot for us was Slaters. With tons of formal wear for hire, this is perfect for the party season.
Our final stop was Lush. Picking up a Charity Pot is a great way to show your support for small grassroots charities, campaigns, and not-for-profit groups working in the areas of animal protection, human rights, and the environment. We are lucky enough to be one of the recipients of this funding, so every pot bought helps people like us with! The new Lush store in Cabot Circus also had some funky patches that will be great for adding to your items in need of repair. We also left with a Knot Wrap, perfect for wrapping presents, using as a bag of a fun accessory. We went for a vintage one, but they also have 100% organic cotton ones.
It’s a joy to see so many sustainable options in the Bristol Shopping Quarter! How can we bring sustainable fashion to every high-street, though? There are empty units on almost every high-street in the UK at the moment, why not get in touch with your council to help fill these with sustainable options. Have a look at the Sustainable Fashion Streets project from HIVE Business School to get ideas and help you with mentoring. We are all need to take action now!