Selby’s Sustainable Fashion Show – Inspiring The Future

Up For Yorkshire held its biggest ever event- a sustainable fashion show in Selby Abbey! Over 350 people came to the Abbey to witness a preloved extravaganza with an electric atmosphere.

30 fabulous models showed off outfits sourced from Selby’s 13 charity shops and local artists. Our models were as diverse as the outfits, showing that there truly is something for everybody at a charity shop.

The evening included incredible artworks created by Arts and Design students at Selby College and made from rubbish and unsellable donations from charity shops. From dresses and sculptures made of scrap fabric and soft toys stuffed with preloved items to a life-size egret made of plastic forks and spoons, the students’ talents and skills were on full display.

A highlight of the evening was ‘Would You Buy That?’, a poem written and performed by artist Fiona Kearns that serves as a funny but thought-provoking reminder to make sure donations to a charity shop are in great condition and ready to sell.

David Skaith, Mayor of York and North Yorkshire, launched an evening of celebration, community, and joy. The fashion show demonstrated how charity shops are vital to thriving high streets and offer quality, affordable fashion while supporting local causes.

The event also featured an Our Zero Selby exhibition, highlighting our journey and some of our amazing projects that we have delivered with residents. We had a branch timeline, demonstrating what happened when local people planted the seeds of ideas in the pilot phase and how we are now seeing the fruits of our labours. At the end of the branch were two real apple trees where people hung their sustainability pledges. Those trees are now in our community garden! We also had interactive activities where people could become a Zero Hero, test their composting knowledge, have a go at repairing a toy bike, test their sustainable fashion knowledge, vote for their favourite method of sustainable transport, and make their very own Craftivism heart to hang on bunting! Flipcharts asked people to think about the Our Zero Selby ethos- why does sustainability matter and why do we do community engagement?

Chris Hailey-Norris, Up For Yorkshire’s Chief Exec, said: ‘what an utterly brilliant celebration of the Shop For the Future Partnership and our efforts to revitalise Selby’s high street, and a glimpse of what’s still to come. Everything we did, from the outfits to the decorations, had sustainability in mind - showing how Selby’s creativity and community flair can lead the way towards a more energised, connected, and sustainable town centre.’

David Skaith, Mayor of York and North Yorkshire said: ‘High streets are constantly changing, but will always be hubs for our communities. That's why I'm backing community led projects across York and North Yorkshire. The Sustainable Fashion Show at Selby Abbey, which showcased outfits sourced entirely from local charity shops, proved how pre-loved clothing can be reimagined. It is wonderful to see the benefits of bringing together the Charity Shops, residents and businesses, who understand most what is needed in their communities, and I am proud to be backing their ongoing plans with my Vibrant and Sustainable High Street Fund.’

Up For Yorkshire would like to thank everybody who attended and all the staff, volunteers, models, artists, and the steering group, for making this event possible. To find out more about Shop For the Future, please visit our page.

All photos of the models taken by Kyle Chaplin. Other photos were taken by our team and our guests.

Supported by David Skaith, Mayor of York and North Yorkshire and funded by York and North Yorkshire Combined Authority.