Swindon Salvation Army eco church's charity fashion show

As an 'Eco Church', the organisation is is committed to promoting sustainability, and showcasws the beauty and value of pre-loved clothing.
Captain Theresa Torr, who leads The Salvation Army at Swindon Gorse Hill, said: “We are absolutely thrilled with the turnout - we could not have fit one more person in the building! 
"What has truly warmed our hearts is seeing so many people come together to show their love for the environment and embrace sustainable fashion. 
"While buying second-hand might seem like a small individual effort, events like this prove that when a community comes together with a shared purpose, those little efforts add up to something much bigger. 
"We hope this fashion show has inspired people to think about the choices they make and the difference we can all make, one outfit at a time.”
The Chapel Street hall was transformed into a vibrant catwalk as staff, volunteers and their families modelled second-hand clothing from the church’s charity shop, proving that sustainable fashion can be stylish, affordable and fun. 
The venue was packed to capacity and the £900 raised far exceeded all expectations.
All outfits modelled were genuine donations to the charity shop, items that had been given a new lease of life rather than ending up in landfill. 
The highest-priced item sold was a wedding dress and veil for just £25, much to the delight of a bride-to-be who had been searching for exactly that style. 
All items not sold on the night have been placed in the shop at half price to further promote affordable, sustainable fashion.
The fashion show was designed to champion the charity shop's recycle and reuse ethic while reinforcing the church’s commitment as an Eco Church. 
By showcasing affordable, pre-loved clothing, the event encouraged the community to think differently about second-hand shopping and consider the environmental impact of fast fashion.
Hayley Purnell, the Community Centre Manager at Swindon Gorse Hill Salvation Army, said that with the UK experiencing heatwaves right now, the fashion show centred on pre-loved clothes was a powerful reminder that climate change was no longer a distant threat.
The money raised will be used in the local community to support the extensive mission work happening at Swindon Gorse Hill Corps, which includes:
- A literacy club giving free books to children
- A kids club supporting up to 50 children during summer
- A lunch and social club which is open to everyone
- A Christmas present appeal that distributed gifts to 324 children last year
Related to being an eco-church, a new initiative called the Eden Patch which will work very much like a forest school will be launching soon. 
Further information can be found at www.salvationarmy.org.uk/swindon-gorse-hill
 

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