July 29 – 31, CarriageWorks, Sydney

From July 29 – 31, Oxfam Australia and CarriageWorks will present Exchange for Change, a free three-day festival that will give people the chance to exchange clothes and ideas about how to make ethical fashion choices.

The festival will take place at CarriageWorks, Sydney, and will feature a mass clothing swap where people use their old clothes as currency to revamp their wardrobe, based on the principle that one person’s trash is another person’s treasure.

The line-up of events will also include a fashion parade by young designers who have taken steps toward producing ethically-made clothing, and a range of panel discussions and seminars about the importance of fair working conditions and environmental sustainability within the fashion industry.

Those not in Sydney can learn how to host their own private Exchange for Change event and about Oxfam’s labour rights work, by downloading an event DIY kit at exchangeforchange.my3things.org.

 The line-up of Exchange for Change events includes: 

 RETHREADS: FREE MASS CLOTHING EXCHANGE
12 – 6pm, Saturday 31 July, CarriageWorks, Sydney

Bring up to 20 clothing items that you no longer want or wear, and exchange them for new pieces to reinvigorate your wardrobe. Last year Rethreads attracted thousands, so check your clothes in the week before for early-bird entry at 11am, and visit exchangeforchange.my3things.org for guidelines on what you can bring.

 WALK AND TALK: DESIGNER SHOWCASE
Session 1: – 6.30 – 8pm or Session 2: 8.30 – 10pm, Friday 30 July, Bay 20, CarriageWorks, Sydney
RSVP essential, to exchangeforchange@oxfam.org.au

Watch young, motivated Australian designers showcase the steps they have taken to produce fairer and more sustainable garments. Designers will present up to six of their own garments and will talk about their commitment to leading the fashion industry into a more ethical era.

 STORIES: RISING TO THE CHALLENGE
6.30-8.30pm, Thurssay 29 July, Bay 20, CarriageWorks, Sydney

Through an intimate panel discussion, hear from labour rights experts and academics as well as designers and manufacturers about the challenges and rewards of increasing their ethical standards of fashion production. The discussion will be followed by entertainment provided by 2ser.

 SEMINAR: BEHIND THE SEEMS WITH OXFAM’S LABOUR RIGHTS UNIT
7 – 8.30pm, Saturday 31 July, Bay 17, CarriageWorks, Sydney

Oxfam Australia has been engaging with corporations including Nike for the rights of workers in the fashion industry for more than 15 years. Hear from Oxfam staff about the progress that has been made and the work that remains ensure workers producing the fashion we love have their rights respected.

For more information visit exchangeforchange.my3things.org 

Host an ‘Exchange for Change’ party – have fun, share with friends and re-vamp your wardrobe for next to nothing. You’ll be helping Oxfam Australia to find solutions to global poverty and injustice at the same time. Runs 1-30 September 2009.

Exchange for Change is a new fundraising event that lets you experience the thrill of shopping for next to no cost. Kicking off on 1 September 2009, Exchange for Change will have women across Australia hosting clothes swap parties to raise money for those less fortunate.  Get together with your friends and colleagues, swap clothing items that you no longer love or want, and make a voluntary donation to help support Oxfam Australia’s invaluable work across the globe.

Exchange for Change is shopping made fun for fashionistas with a conscience!

For information on how to register and host a party, visit www.oxfam.org.au/events/exchange-for-change/

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