Wastebusters is celebrating Slow Fashion Month throughout March by providing tips and ideas on buying more thoughtfully and co-hosting a fashion show dedicated to sustainable style.

‘Slow fashion’ is a movement to slow down the pace of consuming clothing but Wastebusters says that doesn’t mean people can’t enjoy expressing their personal style.

“We’re really trying to push it’s okay to love clothes… it’s just about doing it responsibly,” Wastebusters communications and events coordinator Catrin Smith told The Outlet Podcast.

It is estimated that around 180,000 tonnes of clothing and textile waste is dumped in New Zealand landfills every year.

Making better decisions before we buy could significantly reduce that amount.

“Our campaign is about education about how to choose well, how to buy less, how to shop second hand first and just about thinking before you buy.

“It’s also about following individual style - we don’t want fast fashion brands to dictate what we should and shouldn’t wear every week.”

Catrin has worked in Wastebusters reuse shop for around four years and she says it's been illuminating seeing the volume of clothing that comes into the shop.

“I think that’s where I really started seeing the impact of the fast fashion industry because we are near the end of that chain.”

Wastebusters is also celebrating slow fashion with ‘ReFashion’, a fashion show created in collaboration with Fabricate and the Wānaka Community Workshop.

Catrin said the three organisations came together “because we wanted to celebrate our love for clothes and style”.

The event will showcase environmentally-conscious creations, local sustainable designers and outfits put together by a second-hand styling team, showing consumers that style and overconsumption don’t have to go hand-in-hand.

Refashion is taking place next Thursday (March 23) and tickets ($15 each) are still available.

Book your ticket here and learn more about slow fashion at the Wastebusters website here.

PHOTO: Wastebusters