Slow Fashion
Did you know that here in the Waipā, we send 4.3 tonnes of reusable textiles to landfill in just one week? The Waste Minimisation Team is here to help you on your slow fashion journey – there are loads we can all do to make mindful, planet-friendly fashion choices.
Planet-friendly fashion choices
1. Only buy things you really love
Some experts say we only wear 20% of our wardrobe! We all have our faves, but we don’t wear a whopping 80% of the clothes we’ve spent our hard-earned money on.
When you’re next eyeing up a new piece, think, “Do I absolutely love this? What could I pair it with from my current wardrobe? Could I borrow something like this from a friend instead or rent it?”. Or if you’re op-shopping, a helpful question is, “Am I only buying this because it’s ‘cheap’? Would I buy this if it were full price?”
If you only bring new items into your wardrobe that you absolutely love, you’ll make sure to wear them over and over again. On the fence? Put it back on the rack!
2. Buying sustainably
For some people, this means shopping second-hand and supporting the huge range of op shops we’re lucky to have in the Waipā. For others, it means only buying from accredited ethical brands that pay their workers a living wage and provide safe workplaces.
Other people purchase high-quality pieces that are durable enough to last years of wear and consider how they will care for and repair the item in the future. Your approach might be a combo of some of these, or something else entirely!
3. Care for your clothes
When items get ripped or stained permanently, there are several different ways to deal with this. Tackle easy jobs at home if you’ve got basic sewing skills or take it to one of our local experts for them to weave their magic (more details below).
One popular approach these days is visible mending – this is the art of making the fix a feature rather than trying to hide it. You can find out more about visible mending in our resource list below and remember: Youtube is your friend here. You can pick up endless sewing techniques, tips and tricks and upskill yourself at home for free.
To prolong your garments’ life, consider washing your clothes less and instead spot-cleaning and air-drying them when needed. Remember to check fabric care labels closely – you don’t want to shrink any gorgeous wool jerseys!
4. Repairs and alterations
Show your garments the love they deserve and help them last the distance.
Cambridge
| Business | Website | Contact Number |
| The Tailoress | www.thetailoress.co.nz | 07 823 3154 |
| Stitch & Sew | www.facebook.com/stitchandsewcambridge/ | 027 677 3687 |
| Alter and Tailor by Lorraine Dwyer | www.facebook.com/LorraineDwyerCouture/ | 021 1533 465 |
Te Awamutu
| Business | Address | Contact Number |
| Sew Easy | 194 Alexandra Street, Te Awamutu 3800 | 027 387 2205 |
Sincerity Dry Cleaners | 82 Benson Road, Te Awamutu 3800 | 07 872 0171 |
5. Local sewing classes
Learn some basic sewing skills to boost your resourcefulness or take it to the next level and explore the world of tailoring.
Classes
- Stitchin’ Stuff
- A range of classes available, from dressmaking, patchwork, how to use your Bernina machine, knitting, or for general sewing projects.A range of classes available, from dressmaking, patchwork, how to use your Bernina machine, knitting, or for general sewing projects.
- Location: 91 Market Street, Te Awamutu
- Contact number 07 871 4729
Knitting groups
There’s a bunch of craft and knitting groups in the Waipā too! These can be a great place to pick up new skills and meet other people who share your love of crafts.
Check out this page for a round-up of all the local options: www.fibretron.co.nz/knitting-groups
6. Online inspiration
Check out these Instagram accounts to inspire your sewing and sustainability journey!
| Sarah Sew Love sewlovenz | Jess, Broad In The Seams fat.bobbin.girl | Sustainability Inspirer ethicallykate |
| Nicola Turner mainstreamgreen | Emma's Atelier emmas_atelier | Annaleigh Stafford ford_wardrobe |
| Katrina Rodabaugh katrinarodabaugh | Jenny Visible Mender visible.mending |
Who really pays the price for our clothing? Have you seen The True Cost film?
7. Visible mending
This is all about embracing imperfection and turning a “fix” into a “feature”!
Here are some fantastic online resources to get you started:
8. Dress rentals
Need something for a special occasion? Don’t buy, rent!
| Te Awamutu | Rentals For All |
| Sparkly Couture | |
| Cambridge | Flatter Me Dress Rentals |
| Online | All The Dresses is a compilation of many different dress rental services, all brought together in the one place. |
9. Ethical brand directories
Ethically Kate
Ethically Kate is a NZ ethical fashion author and influencer (check out her blog posts too for some great info and inspiration).
Fair & Good
fair&good showcase brands that reduce poverty, inequality and exploitation.
10. Buy second-hand
Whether it’s trawling Trade Me, buying fashion influencers’ hand-me-downs on Instagram or sourcing from websites like Designer Wardrobe, there are many ways you can scout out great pre-loved fashion deals.
Have you seen our local directory of Op Shops in the Waipā district? You can access our Collectors Anonymous guide here.
11. Books in your local Waipā District Library
We have tons of great books to support your slow fashion journey in our district libraries. Here are just a few:
| Books | Author | Link to Waipā District Library |
| Make Thrift Mend | Rodabaugh, Katrina | View it here |
| Mending Matters | Rodabaugh, Katrina | View it here |
| Modern mending: Minimise waste and maximise style | Lewis-Fitzgerald, Erin | View it here |
| The Art of Repair | Martin, Molly | View it here |
| Mending with love – creative repairs
for your favourite things
| Misumi, Noriko | View it here |
| Mend it, wear it, love it!: Stitch
your way to a sustainable wardrobe
| Edwards, Zoe | View it here |
| Joyful mending: Visible repairs for
the perfectly imperfect things we love
| Misumi, Noriko | View it here |
| Practical sew & mend : essential
mending know-how
| Gordon, Joan | View it here |
| Mend it better | Roach, Kristin M. | View it here |
Collectors Anonymous
Collectors Anonymous has curated a guide book of over 30 vintage, retro, antique, pre-loved, industrial, mid-century, second-hand & charity stores all across Waipā. Within the pages, you’ll find local businesses supporting the circular economy, saving goods from landfill and giving them a new life.
All these shops will have copies, so pop into your favourite op shop, antique or pre-loved shop to grab a copy while stocks last! The updated second-edition of Collectors Anonymous will be available from the start of September in all the op shops and second-hand shops across Waipā.
If you would like a digital version, please visit: www.waipadc.govt.nz/our-services/rubbish-and-recycling/waste-minimisation/zero-waste
Disclaimer
This list was created in August 2023 and may not be an exhaustive list of all relevant businesses, groups and individuals. If you would like to be added to this resource list, please contact: shelley.wilson@waipadc.govt.nz
