One man’s trash is another man’s treasure. This holds true to fashion stylist Monica Vivar and founder of Denuo, an eco-conscious lifestyle brand that aimed to repurpose and reclaim preloved clothing. She reckons that fashion has become disposable with 80% of post purchase going to waste and thinks that women lose the power of self-expression by changing fashion pieces frequently. Vivar’s way of self-expression and empowering women, melds her styling with sustainability and believes in greater value of preloved and vintage items.
On a survey with 860 Filipino females conducted by Carousell Philippines, 67% buy a new piece of clothing every month. The top three reasons are, “I saw it on sale”, “for retail therapy”, “for special occasion”. While more than 50% of Filipino women have at least 20 pieces of underused clothing in their closet. 52% of the respondents said they sell them away, 21% give it to a close friend while 16% leave it in their closets.
Sustainable fashion bazaar in Kapitolyo, Pasig
“Fashion Revolution is a global movement that educates consumers on the impact of their clothing purchases to mark the Anniversary of the Rana Plaza collapse. Overconsumption is both a global and Filipino problem. In 2017, 65% of Filipino adults have thrown clothes away.” said Sophia Calugay, Fashion Revolution’s country coordinator in the Philippines.
“People used to associate preloved clothing with messy piles of clothes from the local ukay-ukays. However, this perception is changing. Buying preloved is not only eco-conscious but also a way to create a unique style. It’s no surprise that Women’s Fashion is the most popular category on the Carousell marketplace with 350,000 listings, out of which 70% is preloved.” said Marita Galvez, Marketing Manager, Carousell Philippines.
Fashion stylist and founder of Denuo, Monica Vivar; sustainability advocate, Kimi Juan and Carousell representative Marita Galvez hold a styling and sharing workshop on sustainable fashion
In fact, the preloved trend is gaining traction in the Philippines, especially with the fashion-conscious crowd. 76% also said they are proud to wear preloved clothing. The top three reasons? It helps save money, it makes their styles unique, and they enjoy the thrill of second-hand shopping. Monica Vivar adds, through valuing and taking care of what people have in their closets and learning to experiment and combine pieces, it can reinvent one’s fashion.
In line with this, a first preloved bazaar for sustainability dubbed the Treasure Market, hosted by Carousell Philippines and Fashion Revolution Philippines, join forces to change the way Filipinos consume commodities. The curated bazaar featured booths from trendsetters like Tricia Gosingtian, Janina Manipol, Raiza Contawi and more.
Jan Aranilla, influencer, stylist and a mother; Kat De Jesus, resident DJ at The Palace Manila, influencer
Penelope Pop by Winnie Wong, Philippine-based illustrator with a dual passion for art and education; influencer
Preloved items of Divine Lee, an entrepreneur, philanthropist, blogger, host, and model
Janina Manipol, influencer, filmmaker and content creator
“We are excited to be part of the Fashion Revolution Week. At Carousell, we believe that changing the way we consume things can make life more meaningful. Treasure Market encourages buying and selling preloved, a way for fashionistas to update their styles more responsibly.” Marita adds.
To encourage young Filipinos to join the preloved movement, Carousell Philippines and Fashion Revolution Philippines organised a series of online and offline activities. A Sustainable Fashion Show held on April 28 as the public screening of award-winning Canadian documentary Riverblue taught more about how fashion can save the planet, followed by a runway showcasing clothes that have been recycled, upcycled and reconstructed.
STKD Zeppelin Coworking + Event Space at 11 Brixton Street, Kapitolyo Pasig
About Carousell and Fashion Revolution
Carousell is one of the world’s largest and fastest growing classifieds marketplace where people can buy and sell easily. Launched in 2012, Carousell started in Singapore and has expanded to 7 key markets. It has been recognized as the most popular shopping application in Singapore, Taiwan, and Hong Kong. The marketplace has variety of products in 29 categories, including car, gadget, and fashion accessories. Download the apps for iOS or Android, and visit www.ph.carousell.com/ for more info.
Fashion Revolution is a global movement that works for a more sustainable fashion industry, campaigning for systemic reform of the industry with a special focus on the need for greater transparency in the fashion supply chain. Fashion Revolution is a non-profit organisation with a presence in over 100 countries around the world. Our vision is a fashion industry that values people, the environment, profit and creativity in equal measure. Fashion Revolution works all year round to raise awareness of the fashion industry’s most pressing issues, advocate for positive change, and celebrate those who are on a journey to create a more ethical and sustainable future for fashion. Visit www.fashionrevolution.org/ for more info.
Very affordable, hardly-worn branded and designer clothes, and are sold for a cause
For those who missed out the on-ground event, on May 4-6, The Online Treasure Market will hold preloved pieces from influencers like Tricia Gosingtian, Janina Manipol, Kimi Juan and more on the Carousell marketplace.
– xoxo, hoppiepolla
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