Delaware may not be known for high fashion, but retail shopping is a crucial part of its economy. Despite being the second-smallest state in the U.S., Delaware ranks fourth nationally in fashion retail density, with 92.84 clothing stores per 100,000 people, according to a report by T-shirt wholesaler ShirtMax. This prominence in retail comes as the global clothing market is expected to reach $2.25 trillion by 2025.
However, the rise in clothing consumption has raised environmental concerns due to the large amounts of clothing discarded each year.
To address these issues, Goodwill of Delaware & Delaware County hosted its first ReThink Fashion Show: The Eco Edit on August 23. The event, held at their New Castle facility, aimed to raise awareness about the fashion industry’s environmental impact by showcasing outfits made from second-hand clothing and upcycled items.
The show attracted a diverse crowd, including Delaware’s fashion influencers, sustainability advocates, and supporters. Attendees enjoyed an exclusive shopping experience, special discounts, and a runway show featuring trendy outfits created from donated clothing.
In addition to its fashion focus, the event highlighted Goodwill’s workforce development programs, offering support for these initiatives.
Beatrice Millan-Windorski, the first Filipino American to be crowned Miss Earth USA, hosted the event. Local stylists Tia Jones of Tia Couture, Akin Bethea of ANiQ Styles, and Sienna Nelson curated the runway looks using items from Goodwill’s stores and outlets. The fashion pieces showcased were creatively assembled from second-hand and upcycled materials.
Fashion enthusiast Tesia Shaykim attended the show to see original and unique designs. Wearing a mix of thrifted and sale items, Shaykim emphasized the importance of supporting sustainable fashion solutions due to the global impact of fast fashion. “Thrifting is a way to contribute to solving the problems caused by fast fashion,” Shaykim said.
University of Delaware students from the Department of Fashion and Apparel Studies also participated, presenting their textile-to-fiber recycling project called ReSpool.
Attendees had the chance to purchase many of the featured outfits before and after the runway show. Proceeds from these sales will support Goodwill’s workforce development programs. Colleen Morrone, president and CEO of Goodwill of Delaware and Delaware County, noted that earlier this month, Goodwill launched Goodwill Connect, a self-service program offering job training resources.
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