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Raid My Wardrobe

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My top 3 tips for shopping NEW clothes!

in DIY Fashion, Tips on 16/11/16

Last weekend was the Fair Share Festival and it was great to see so many people from the Newcastle community sharing ideas on a fairer and more sustainable world for all.

The clothing industry is the second largest polluter in the world…second only to oil! A fact that is pretty scary.

So, I am going to share with you today my tops three take home tips from the festival and how to reduce your clothing footprint. 

#1 Think, ethical, fair trade, live with less – before you head off to the shops to purchase new, think about if you really need the item and can you source it from somewhere sustainable first. Sometimes our need to shop is actually a deeper need we are trying to fulfill like boredom or happiness. So consider will I really need this item in a month from now.

The tee above was locally made and designed from organic cotton. Yes, it did cost me $20 not $3 and smelt so much nicer too – I didn’t have to pre-wash it. I feel happy knowing that buying this product helped to support organic cotton farmers. 

#2  Exchange, swap, op shop, markets, eBay, garage sales, Gumtree to keep clothes out of landfill – the best way to respect the makers, designers, farmers and everyone involved in producing our clothes is to keep wearing them over and over again. Hold swap parties with friends, op shop, shop preloved markets like Raid My Wardrobe buy second-hand online.  I think it is so amazing that women in Newcastle are walking around wearing each other’s clothes – what a fashion revolution movement we have here!

Part of my haul from the clothes swap. Ten gorgeous items including many overseas brands plus Jag and Esprit. Easy way to refresh your wardrobe without paying a cent. Get in touch with some girlfriends and do a swap today!

#3 Upcycle, refashion, adapt, repair – whether you are creative or not this is something we can all embrace and it is so easy these days to search Google and watch tutorials on YouTube.

It was so simple to turn a pair of unworn vintage jeans into a new skirt (above) for this Summer. 

Shop local makers who are fairtrade or upcycle. This dress is made from a linen tablecloth and doilies. I have had it for around 8 years and always get so many compliments when I wear it. 

So, next time you are going shopping Rethink. Recycle. Refashion. Share this with a friend you think will love these tips.

Yours in all things preloved,

Rachel Prest on Email
Rachel Prest
Rachel Prest
Director & Founder at Raid My Wardrobe
Rachel Prest is founder of Raid My Wardrobe. In 2010, she founded a preloved fashion event for women to refresh, recycle and reinvent their wardrobes. She began this blog in 2016 as a way to inspire, educate and encourage her community with more sustainable ways of fashion shopping, styling and creating. When she's not doing a wardrobe makeover or planning the next event you'll find her down at the beach, hiking or mountain biking in the bush or hanging out with her friends and her kids. Rachel is based in Newcastle, Australia.

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Poncho Blue Mtns Op Shop find $8 keeping me warm i Poncho Blue Mtns Op Shop find $8 keeping me warm in Newcastle city on this mid winter's day.

#outfitoftheday #ofotd #raidmywardrobe #opshop #thrift
OUTFIT OF THE DAY - Cowboy Boots and Denim for a f OUTFIT OF THE DAY - Cowboy Boots and Denim for a friend's birthday bash. I'm already sick and tired of wearing jeans or leather pants to functions in winter. I got this cute dress in a recent clothes swap with girlfriends and thought my cowboy boots would look perfect with it. 

DRESS Free
BOOTS $50 Op Shop
DENIM JACKET $25 @fynde_on_beaumont 

#outfitoftheday #ofotd #clothesswap #opshop #fyndeonbeaumont #raidmywardrobe #recycledfashion #prelovedfashion
It was our birthday yesterday! 12!!! Founded in 2 It was our birthday yesterday!  12!!! Founded in 2010 we have been around for a long time and will continue to bring our events and slow fashion styling to you. Winter - time to bring our the boots and fluffy warm clothes 😊
HAPPY 2022! Wishing you all a new year full of e HAPPY 2022! 

Wishing you all a new year full of everything you're wishing for and more. May your 2022 be bright, may you move through any challenges with ease and grace and may you be open to all the opportunities, fun and adventures that come your way. We look forward to you being a part of the Raid My Wardrobe community this year. 

Thank you for continuing to support us and hang in there 🙏 the past two years. 

We don't know what 2022 holds but will keep you all in the loop. There is one thing for sure I'm so hanging to get some 'new'  loved clothes in my wardrobe that's for sure. 

Hang in there we'll be raiding wardrobes sometime soon. 

Rachel
2021 EVENT UPDATE - Thank you for your patience an 2021 EVENT UPDATE - Thank you for your patience and understanding during this time as we negated lockdown for the past few months and all the challenges (and opportunities) it has brought.

It's not easy being a small business owner at the moment during these difficult economic times especially in the events/entertainment industry where we have barely got off the ground in like 18 months. And then to try and get our head around the ever constant changes with regulations, rules, restrictions :/ 

Which brings me to our next event scheduled for October 24. With the current vibe of great uncertainty coming up in the months ahead as business begins to re-open and being so close to Christmas, I've made the difficult decision to move all Raid My Wardrobe events to 2022.

Raid My Wardrobe has always been an inclusive event and as such we wish to host an event at a time that is inclusive of everyone attending and participating without discrimination or segregation. 

All October 24 Stallholders please see separate email with regards to your refunds. 

Thank you to each and everyone one of you for your continued support, patience and understanding.

Until next year, take care of yourself and your loved ones, check in with each other and get out and enjoy the sunshine, fresh air and salt water. 

Much love to you all 

Rachel x
NEW DATE & NEW VENUE SOON TO BE ANNOUCED! Thank yo NEW DATE & NEW VENUE SOON TO BE ANNOUCED! Thank you to everyone for your patience as we have navigated Covid, restrictions  on large in person events and now our venue of 10 years no longer able to accommodate us. It has been a very trying 14 months and locating another suitable and affordable venue has been extremely challenging. We believe that we are very close to securing a new venue for Raid My Wardrobe and just have to confirm a few more things. Rest assured we are coming back in some capacity one way or another and you our beautiful community will be the first to know. To get the announcement of new date and stallholder bookings straight to your inbox make sure that you are subscribed to www.raidmywardrobe.com.au/subscribe 
I look forward to seeing you all again soon and raiding your wardrobes cause my wardrobe is so in need of some beautiful new clothes. 
Much love 
Rachel Prest xo
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