Goodwill fashion show turned unwanted clothes into fashion statements

Delaware may not be a fashion capital, but retail shopping plays a significant role in the state's economy. The second-smallest state in the country ranks fourth nationally in fashion retail density, with 92.84 clothing stores per 100,000 people, according to an analysis by T -shirt wholesaler ShirtMax . This retail prominence comes as the global clothing market is projected to reach $2.25 trillion by 2025, industry watchers report .

However, this consumption has raised concerns about environmental pollution with millions of pounds of clothing discarded annually.

To raise awareness about the fashion industry's impact on the environment, the Goodwill of Delaware & Delaware County hosted its inaugural ReThink Fashion Show: The Eco Edit on Thursday night. The event showcased stylish outfits made from second-hand clothing and upcycled items to promote sustainable alternatives to landfill waste.

The show drew a diverse community including Delaware's fashion influencers, sustainability advocates and a coterie of supporters. Attendees were treated to an exclusive shopping opportunity, special discounts, and a runway showcase featuring trendy looks created from donated clothing.

Beyond the glamour, the event also highlighted Goodwill's workforce development programs, offering attendees an opportunity to support Goodwill's workforce development programs.

Fashions at the ReThink Fashion Show: The Eco Edit

Held at its New Castle facility, the ReThink Fashion Show: The Eco Edit took place Aug. 23. Beatrice Millan-Windorski, the first Filipino American to win the title of Miss Earth USA, hosted the show.

Local stylists Tia Jones of Tia Couture , Akin Bethea of ANiQ Styles and Sienna Nelson curated runway looks using second-hand clothing and upcycled items from Goodwill's stores and outlets. The show featured fashion pieces that were creatively assembled to create stylish outfits.

Fashion lover Tesia Shaykim said she attended the event hoping to see runway fashions that demonstrated originality and unique design. Wearing a mix of thrifted and sale items, the Wilmington resident explained that while she is passionate about artistry and creativity in fashion, supporting sustainable solutions is equally important due to the fashion industry's global impact.

"I find that over the world, there are a lot of grave effects that have to do with fast fashion. So thrifting to me is kind of a way that can be part of the solution to fix that,” Shaykim said.

Students from the University of Delaware's Department of Fashion and Apparel Studies working on a textile-to-fiber fashion waste recycling project called ReSpool also participated.

Before and after the runway presentation, attendees had the opportunity to purchase many of the showcased outfits. Proceeds from the sales will support Goodwill's workforce development initiatives, according to Colleen Morrone, president and chief executive officer of Goodwill of Delaware and Delaware County. Earlier this month, Goodwill launched Goodwill Connect, a self-service program providing access to job training resources.

A hub for environmental stewardship

The impact of consumer waste on the environment led the nonprofit to encourage attendees to rethink more than just their fashion choices. Known for accepting donated clothing, the organization’s New Castle recycling center is a hub for its recycling efforts.

Colleen Morrone, president and CEO, emphasized the organization’s commitment to sustainability. She highlighted that as stewards of both donations and the environment, the nonprofit seeks ways to upcycle and recycle various materials, including textiles, plastics, cardboard, and glass.

"Sand is apparently the second most consumed resource on Earth," Morrone said. "Keep[ing] this glass out of the landfill and reus[ing] it as sand is just one of the innovative ways that Goodwill is continuing to look at items that are donated that might not get resold in our stores [and use as something] beneficial to our environment."

The organization recently purchased a pulverizer machine, affectionately named Sandy, to transform donated glass into sand. By recycling glass into sand, the center aims to prevent it from ending up in landfills. It will repurpose the sand and sell it for various uses such as filler for sandbags and construction material.

You can c ontact Anitra Johnson at ajohnson@delawareonline.com .

This article originally appeared on Delaware News Journal: Goodwill fashion show turned unwanted clothes into fashion statements