“Ethical Fashion show? What? How? Why? Will it really make a difference? All questions I was very ready to ask a few months ago when I first heard the crazy idea to run such an event;” writes Simeon Bayton from the Stanford Boiler Room. “Since then though I’ve been able to watch the plans unfold and see the idea take shape…
Ex Transit student Tina Aurand asked (via facebook) a few weeks ago; ‘What Boiler Room Value is the hardest to practice?’ interestingly so far the poll results show that most people think justice is hardest. As a community in Stanford-Le-Hope we continually try to balance our rhythms of life and seek ways to push ourselves further. Not so long ago the discussion of justice re-surfaced and we deliberately set time aside to look at ways that we (as a community) can get more involved in making a real difference to urgent and pressing issues surrounding us in today’s world. We looked at ‘fair-trade’ and specifically how our food shopping can impact the lives of the oppressed, we looked at ‘Stop The Traffik’ and the staggering statistics of real people in desperate situations, and we looked at ideas for events to get a wider community on board and to shake us out of our comfortable bubble.
And the Idea was born…
Fun run, Fondue week, and Fashion show.
The fashion show was the main event and when a team had been volunteered to run it the planning began in earnest. The venue was booked, the clothes bought or borrowed, publicity designed and circulated, runway, sound, lighting and decor designed and sourced, models persuaded, and the day finally arrived.
Having set up the runway, curtains, lights and sound equipment the day before, we were ready on Saturday morning for the models to take part in a workshop hosted by ex model Enola Stevenson for lessons in the art of the Catwalk. Everyone agreed that this boosted confidence and added a touch of professional class whilst also being a great time spent together building relationships. We lunched together and then while final preparations were made and models continued to practise walking and posing, the first few were sent to hair and make-up (once again we marvel at the diversity in our community which even provides professional hair and make-up artists). With our audience in place, local news camera ready to roll, and models outfitted the show began.
http://www.yourthurrock.com/2010/11/08/ethical-fashion-show-in-corringham-2/
The evening was a great success and we’re eagerly looking forward to running future events. I feel confident that those involved and the enthusiastic audience will have found at least one way in which they can help address the issues of injustice in fashion, I know I have.
So often we’re told that small changes combined will make the difference, but do we really grasp that and actually make those small changes? It’s time to stop talking about changing our tea to fair-trade and actually do it. It’s time to stop talking about the oppression of clothing manufactures and actually buy the alternative. It’s time to stop talking about changing the world, and actually do it.
COME ON!!!”
Simeon Bayton is a slightly eccentric and unpredictable member of the Stanford-Le-Hope Boiler room community who grew up in south Devon and loves travelling. He has just completed an internship with his local church and his passion for the united Church fuels his enthusiasm for teaching and heading up the learning aspect of Boiler room life. Simeon wants to visit all the cold places of the world, walk the length of Britain, sample as many real ales and single malt whiskeys as is affordable, and work toward a unified body of Christ.
To find out more about the Stanford Boiler Room, please visit their blog. For more information on 24-7 Communities and Boiler Rooms, check out the Boiler Rooms and Communities pages on the 24-7 UK Website.
