INTERVIEW with Do-Op Shop || Brisbane Fashion Festival 2024 Designer (Hancock Prospecting Next Gen Group Show)
SD: Hi Do-Op Shop, for my readers who don’t know you yet, can you please introduce yourself?
Do-Op Shop: Hey there! We’re Do-Op Shop - a registered charity op-shop that is non-religious, inclusive & supports local projects directly, from education programs to vital social services. We’re also a women-founded and led organisation that is passionate about sustainability, up-cycling & spreading the love of pre-loved!
SD: How would you like to see the fashion industry evolve?
Do-Op Shop: I think we can all agree that the fashion industry is long overdue for a major over-haul and recent statistics on how it is impacting our plant are terrifying. It’s easy to become overwhelmed when faced with this question but we continue to focus on what we can change & keep spreading the message to save money and the planet by taking care of what you currently have; up-cycle, repair, re-wear, avoiding fast fashion & shopping secondhand. We may not be able to change the whole world, but we can change OUR world - and that’s what matters!
In the future we'd love to see fashion labels create clothing lines using waste materials and existing garments while ensuring seasonal/end of line items are dealt with responsibly, with the focus being on sustainability and planet rather than brand degradation.
SD: What are the easiest steps a consumer can take to become a more conscious shopper?
Do-Op Shop: Aside from the more obvious steps like doing your research, checking the materials used & opting to buy pre-loved, be conscious of what you already have. Before you buy think to yourself “what do I currently have at home that I could re-style or up-cycle?” It’s about being intentional not just with what we want, but with what we already have at home. Plus up-cycling is a fantastic way to create unique pieces that money can’t buy!
SD: What first inspired you to start “Do-OP Shop”?
Do-Op Shop: Do-Op Shop was started by my mum, Nina & I in our living-room with one goal in mind: to create a community hub where we focused on people rather than profit. We wanted to create a space where people could visit and feel valued enough to be vulnerable and ask for help, where volunteers felt engaged and respected, and where customers could walk in the door and feel genuinely welcomed and appreciated. Above all it was a place where all stakeholders could have fun and make connections. Since opening our first store just over two years ago Do-Op has grown quickly, allowing us to support other charities and community members doing it tough, we have our supporters and amazing team to thank for that!
SD: What does sustainable fashion mean to you?
Do-Op Shop: Sustainable fashion is so important to us that we’ve collectively come up with seven sustainable fashion pledges that we’ll be demonstrating on the runway. We’ll be asking our Do-Op customers to commit to one of these pledges when they make a purchase in-store. The pledges will then be featured in our final grand runway look at The Brisbane Fashion Festival! They are as follows;
I pledge to avoid fast fashion.
I pledge to commit to buying natural fibres.
I pledge to be a fixer.
I pledge to wear outfits more than once (re-wearer).
I pledge to support small Australian businesses.
I pledge to do my homework and learn before I buy (ie educate myself about brands / businesses before buying).
I pledge to recognise the impact on women before I purchase / support other women in my fashion choices / empower.
SD: Without giving too much details away, what should we expect from your collection for Brisbane Fashion Festival 2024 event?
Do-Op Shop: Without giving too many details away we know you’re going to LOVE it (hint, hint). Our runway will be a montage of gorgeous pieces that have been re-imagined, re-created and re-purposed. Since it’s a spring collection it will be quite romantic with soft, earthy colours and a mix of fabrics. We’re excited to be collaborating with some local makers and although the idea of a runway is totally new to us we are grateful for the opportunity as the first ever independent charity op-shop to be involved. I will leave you with this, our collection is called "Sustainable Serenade: Fashion’s Ode to the Planet" and we can't wait to show you x
See Do-Op Shop on the runway. Buy your tickets here
Brisbane Fashion Festival Website: https://brisbanefashionfestival.com/
Brisbane Fashion Festival Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BrisbaneFashionFestival
Brisbane Fashion Festival Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/brisbane.fashionfestival/
Do-Op Shop Links:
Website: https://www.do-opshop.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/do_opshop/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/do.opshopp
