4 October 2018

Rise, Resist, Swap: Changing the World Through Fashion

| Nina Gbor
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Claire Press

Clare Press: sustainable-fashion extraordinaire.

Canberra isn’t exactly known to the outside world as a fashion or sustainability hub. However, that will soon change as we’re about to have a Vogue magazine editor at an exclusive, VIP event in our city. Clare Press, Australian Vogue magazine’s Sustainability Editor-at-Large will be in Canberra to launch her new book, Rise & Resist on October 13th, at 5 pm at East Hotel, Kingston.

Clare Press is a passionate advocate for sustainable and ethical fashion. Her book Wardrobe Crisis, How We Went From Sunday Best to Fast Fashion was rated one of the Best Books of 2016 by The Age and the Sydney Morning Herald. Clare is also a podcaster who spreads the word about sustainable living, responsible fashion and the environment on her Wardrobe Crisis podcast series.

The event will be a book launch and clothes swap collaboration hosted by the Clothes Swap & Style team and myself, Eco Stylist, Nina Gbor. Guests of this soiree will receive a free copy of the book and a chance to meet the author and get their book signed. There will be wine, canapés and a pool of good quality clothes to swap! If you have nothing to add to the pool of clothes and accessories, the organisers have plenty and want you to come along anyway to listen to the Rise & Resist message.

Rise & Resist; How to Change the World is published by Melbourne University Press. It’s exposing a new counterculture united by the ultimate purpose of rethinking how we live today to build a more sustainable tomorrow. The book looks at modern activism, taking us through the new wave of activism sweeping the world from introverted craftivists to eco-warriors and zero-wasters. Rise and Resist encourages and explores the works of passionate change makers who deploy increasingly creative strategies to make their voices heard for environmental and social justice.

This Rise & Resist book launch and Clothes Swap event has also attracted the interest of the ACT Commissioner for Sustainability and Environment, Professor Kate Auty and members of the ACT Legislative Assembly – which I think speaks to Canberra’s innovative spirit. The ACT Commissioner for Sustainability and Environment, Kate Auty, said sustainability and individual activism go hand in hand.

“The fast fashion industry is a growing global concern on many levels – for garment workers’ rights, the environment and the ever-growing waste it produces. This Clothes Swap and Book Launch is an innovative and creative way to both educate and activate. I am looking forward to the event and hearing from Nina and Clare on how we can all live more sustainably and Rise & Resist in our everyday actions,” she said.

Clare said the event is an opportunity for people to engage with activism on an individual level. “Australians are one of the biggest fashion wasters in the world, throwing out up to 30 kilograms of clothing a year per person. Clothes swaps are one way to consciously take action – whether that be for sustainable, ethical or environmental reasons and help fight the war on fashion waste,” she said.

“My new book, Rise and Resist, was borne out of the collective activism I see taking place around the world, but today’s context calls for increasingly creative strategies to make our voices heard… To be launching my book in the nation’s capital with Clothes Swap & Style is exciting and is exactly the type of creative strategy we need to galvanise people and transform our world… For anyone who considers themselves an activist – this event is for you. I’m looking forward to meeting Canberra’s fashion community, waste warriors and champions of change,” said Clare.

There’s more information about this exclusive event here.

If you’re interested in coming along and also joining the swap, pick out three pieces of your best quality clothes and/or accessories and bring them to the venue during the drop off period between 4 pm – 4:30 pm.

Rise & Resist: 13 October, 5 pm at East Hotel, Kingston. Get event tickets here.

Learn more about Clare Press here.

Instagram: @mrspress and Clothes Swap & Style

Facebook: @wardrobecrisis

Twitter: @MrsPress

Eco Stylist, Nina Gbor

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