Amelia Twine - Mentoring: How to build your Sustainable Fashion Hub

Description

Mentoring online or in person to workshop plans for a Sustainable Fashion Hub and to frame a plan of action.

About Me

I have worked in sustainability in a number of capacities throughout my career – primarily in food to begin with. I ran a restaurant group for seven years where we championed local food systems and sustainability in hospitality. I was also on the board of directors for the Sustainable Restaurant Association for three years before moving from food into fashion. 

In an attempt to help shift consumer fashion habits away from fast fashion I initially set up and ran an online sustainable womenswear platform, which had to close during the Covid pandemic. But understanding the barriers to participation for the ordinary consumer in becoming more sustainable I decided to turn my attention to how to make sustainability and Fashion more accessible and relevant to people from all backgrounds.

As a result I founded A Single Thread CIC: the non-profit organisation behind the UK’s Sustainable Fashion Week (SFW). SFW works in community engagement, seeking to inform, inspire, empower and upskill the consumer. We curate a UK-wide program of action every September, providing the sustainable counterpart to London Fashion Week – one that is accessible and for community benefit. In 2023 SFW saw over 140 events and activities take place in 43 regions in the UK – and a further 5 international locations. 

In between our flagship SFW event each September we run a number of different activities throughout the year to advocate for new models of fashion consumption. In 2023 we ran a pilot for a city centre ‘Sustainable Fashion Hub’ combining fashion retail and fashion services, including: 10 independent traders selling vintage, upcycled and sustainable new, a repair café, a clothes swap, a library, workshops and creative space. These Hubs are part of our SFW evetn programme, but our pilot sought to explore how to make one permanent on the high street.

What I can help with:

If you would like to explore how to set up a repair café, clothes swap or a larger Sustainable Clothing Hub I can share my experiences with you and advise how to build a structured plan of action. I can offer transparent information about pitfalls to avoid, things to consider and how to share your successes to inspire others and build a following. 

Introduction call (30 minutes)

• An opportunity to meet and ask for advise or feedback
• Come with specific questions prepared to get the most of your time.

Mentoring call (60 minutes)

• A 1-hour Teams meeting (or in person if you are based in Bristol)
• Honest and transparent information and advise
• Suggestions and feedback on your plans to help guide you to the easiest path 
• Actions to take away with you to help you work in a supported way