Sustainable style at Circular Fashion Swap and Learn event

Sustainable style took centre stage at the Circular Fashion Swap and Learn event this week, hosted by Dún Laoghaire Rathdown County Council in the UCD Village Hub. The event organised in collaboration with UCD and facilitated by Change Clothes empowered participants to engage with circular textiles and revitalise their wardrobes by exchanging some of their own clothes for other pre-loved items. Two sustainable fashion upskilling workshops were also offered - “DIY patching” taught participants how to lengthen the life of textiles and “Scraps to Hats”, provided a guide on making fun bucket hats out of spare textiles.   

Councillor Jim O’Leary, Cathaoirleach, Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council said:

"Today's event allowed everyone to engage with eco-friendly fashion and to learn how to reverse the growing trend of a throwaway culture. We are delighted to support such events that empower individuals to make sustainable lifestyle choices and also upskill themselves."

The event proved very popular with staff and students alike with both the workshops and the clothes swap being well attended.   Over 100 items of clothing were rehomed, and the bucket hat workshop found an eager audience in students preparing for this year’s music festival season. 

Frank Curran, Chief Executive of Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council added: 

"We are all thrilled with the success of today's clothes swap and workshop event which reflects the benefits of collaboration in facilitating climate action in our communities and enables our collective commitment to the delivery of the carbon emission reduction targets set out in dlr’s Climate Action Plan 2024-2029."

More opportunities to get involved in climate action and circular events will be available during the forthcoming Dublin Climate Action Week 2025 which takes place from 12-18 May.

A full programme of events will be available from 22 April here