These South Coast shops have been given a 'green' seal of approval

The South Coast Circular Fashion Trail is the brain-child of Yolanda del Valle-Buetefuer who has quietly collated a growing list of shops who have been given her 'green' seal of approval.

"Who are [sustainable] in design, in making, in upcycling and recycling, including op-shops, clothing repairers, dressmakers - with a focus on local and circular," she said.

"The whole idea of 'circular fashion' is designing with intent, designing for it to last, designing for it to be remade into something else and also, you know, upcycling and recycling."

The trail, which had help getting off the ground from an iAccelerate program and a grant from the Bega Valley Shire Council, has so far captured 128 businesses.

This includes The Classy Closet and Ponyboy Vintage in Wollongong, along with Hey Jude Designs and The Retro Room in Kiama - but the list will grow.

Ms del Valle-Buetefuer said the goal was to double or triple that number, and hoped other regions would use her trail as a template for their own as a further push for change.

Eventually she wants every sustainable fashion producer to be on the map (which is available in listed stores, and soon to be online) for consumers to make informed choices.

"Recycled fashion has really taken off," she said, also noting the use of recycled fabrics are on the rise. "It's the Millennials that have really pushed this ... but there is still a significant portion of the market that is reliant on 'fast fashion'."

Yolanda Del Valle-Buetefuer. Picture supplied.

She did believe the industry was "transitioning" but there were still significant challenges - such as plastic packaging used in products made off-shore.

"It is being rebuilt, I explain it like a jigsaw puzzle that's been tipped up down and being rebuilt," she said.

"The next stage is that it goes online and it starts to go up the supply chain. The map is about connecting consumer to business and the next stage is connecting brand business up the supply chain."

For more details, visit her Facebook page HERE.

EXTRACT FROM THE SUSTAINABLE FASHION TRAIL

Wollongong

Hey Jude Designs, www.heyjudedesigns.com.au, New Vintage, designed in Wollongong, ethically produced by a small manufacturing team in Vietnam.
The Classy Closet, Shop 7B, 81-83 Church St (arcade), Wollongong, 0431 066 409, High quality recycled fashions

Bombaderry

Animal Welfare League Op Shop, 67 Meroo St, Bombaderry, Recycled Fashion and fabrics

Kiama

The Retro Room, 128 Terralong St, Kiama NSW, 0432 265523, high quality retro vintage fashions.
Hey Jude Designs, 128 Terralong St, Kiama NSW, 0432 265523, www.heyjudedesigns.com.au, 1960's and 1970's retro designed in Australia, made from a small ethically conscious manufacturing team in Vietnam.
Salvos Store, 116 Terralong St, 02-4232 4868, recycled fashion and fabrics.

Berry

Re-Souled, within Co.Lab, 97 Queen St, Berry, 0401 174856, high quality recycled fashion collection within the Co.Lab store in Berry

Gerringong

Mayflower Nearly New, 102 Fern St, 02-4234 1696, recycled fashion and fabrics.
The Collective Beat, 107 Fern St, Gerringong, 0434 993 850, www.thecollectivebeat.com, a collection of local ethical fashion makers and recyclers.

Shoalhaven

The Second Hand Clothing Store, 15 George Street, Warilla https://ebay.com.au/usr/thesecondhandcoshop Recycled fashions and fabrics.

Nowra

Spaghetti Junction, 84a Junction Street, Nowra, @spagetti____junction, high quality vintage and recycled fashions.
Wild Tribe, 74 Kinghorne St, Nowra, 02-44078692, www.wild-tribe.com.au a collection of ethically made and sourced brands, children's clothing.

Jervis Bay

Ethik, 79 Owen St, Huskinson & Jervis Bay, www.ethik.com.au, 0439 552111, handmade and sustainable products made from natural, recycled and organic materials, empowering women producers.

Huskisson

The Collective Beat, 51 Owen St, Huskisson, 0422784 785, www.thecollectivebeat.com a small collection of local makers.

Sussex Inlet

Inasmuch Op Shop, 195 Jacobs Drive, 02-4441 1008, recycled fashions and fabrics.

Milton

Milton Emporio, Shop 3A/97 Princess Hwy, Milton www.facebook.com/miltonemporio vintage clothing store.
The Collective Beat, 107 Princes Hwy, Milton, 0473 230136, a small collection of local fashion makers.

Ulladulla

Slow the Label, 4/22-24 Watson St, Ulladulla, 0412 081097, www.facebook.com/ahandmadecollective, A collective movement of ethically produced fashion, Appleye Jewellery, Skylla Clothing, Samook Designs Clothing.
Pearl Button Bridal, www.peralbutton.com.au 0431 794 307, Bridal couture designed and made on the South Coast by Dina Mitchell with sustainable ethical values and care, ECA Accredited.

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Wollongong fashion stores added to South Coast Circular Fashion Trail

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