This year Kangan Institute, one of Australian’s largest government TAFE providers, and also boasts a significant Hellenic heritage, continues their partnership with Red Cross in presenting Kinship – the 2017 Rags to Runway fashion show.

Part of Melbourne Fashion Week 2017, the event will feature a fashion show presenting up-cycled outfits made by Kangan Institute’s fashion students. The outfits were redesigned, recreated, reimagined and upcycled using donated garments from Red Cross shops. Some garments also feature fabrics and trims donated to Kangan Institute by Melbourne’s fashion industry.

“This collaboration is a great example of education, sustainability, and popular culture coming together to really make a difference during Melbourne Fashion Week,” said Greek Australian Vicki Nicola, Kangan Institute’s lead fashion educator.

“Kangan Institute students get to raise funds for a meaningful cause, while applying their skills to give new life to discarded garments in the name of sustainability.”

Celebrity eco-stylist, founder of Op Shop to Runway, and Red Cross ambassador Alex van Os is styling the show with 50 per cent of ticket sales donated to Red Cross.

“We are thrilled to see just how far emerging designers can take sustainable fashion,” said Andre Oosthuizen, Australian Red Cross’ general manager of Community Engagement and Retail Services.

“Rags to Runway can inspire all of us to think differently about fashion, and we encourage people to shop at Red Cross to restyle clothing, set their own trends and help reduce landfill,” he said.

Discarded clothing is increasingly becoming an environmental issue. The recent ABC TV series War on Waste drew attention to Australians disposing 6,000 kilograms of fashion and textile waste every 10 minutes. According to Australian Bureau of Statistics data, Australians sent 501,000 tonnes of leather and textiles to landfill in 2009-10.

Shopping and donating to Red Cross shops encourages the community to ‘reduce, reuse, and recycle’, which in turn reduces landfill waste. There will be a Red Cross pop-up shop on the night showcasing new and pre-loved fashion pieces.

When: Wednesday 6 September
Where: 524 Flinders St, Melbourne, VIC