Clothes donated to Teesside Hospice shops are being given another life on the catwalk this September, with Middlesbrough art students turning pre-loved denim into one-off looks for a charity fashion show in Stockton.
The Second Hand September Fashion Show takes place at Teesside Hospice’s Superstore on Portrack Lane on Saturday 26 September from 4pm to 7pm.
Students from the Northern School of Art are working with donated pieces from the hospice’s shops, with denim through different eras providing the main creative thread. The finished outfits will be during the show and the one-off pieces will then be available to buy.
Fashion built from what already exists
The event is the finale to Teesside Hospice’s month-long Second Hand September campaign, which encourages people to choose pre-loved clothing rather than buying new for 30 days.
There is a practical environmental idea underneath the styling. Clothes already circulating through local charity shops become raw material for students to alter, combine and rework, while sales help support hospice services at the same time.
Charity Shop Girl founder Jen Graham is also due to attend for a meet-and-greet, live talk and second-hand shopping masterclass. The evening includes out-of-hours access to the Superstore, styling and repurposing advice, refreshments, music, a raffle and tombola.
Teesside Hospice describes the event as plastic-free and says the venue is disability accessible. Standard tickets are £20, with £5 student tickets listed on the current booking page.
A local collaboration
The project brings together two familiar Teesside institutions in a way that gives students a real audience for their creative work. It also makes the charity shop itself part of the event rather than simply the of the clothes.
The North East Chamber of Commerce’s current event listing independently confirms the 26 September date, Portrack setting, Northern School of Art collaboration and the focus on reimagining donated denim.
Teesside Hospice also has a free Second Hand September guide for people who want to take part in the wider campaign without attending the fashion show.