About The Good Wardrobe
The Good Wardrobe is a free, award-winning online community hub mixing the best conscious fashion with services that prolong the life of your clothes. It is the antithesis of fast fashion.
Image Credit: Susanne Hakuba
How it all started
In 2012 on a shoe-string budget I created The Good Wardrobe, an online resource to make it as easy as possible for people to dress ethically and stylishly. It is a carefully curated platform that connects consumers to makers, menders and conscious designers, providing tips, guides, services, forums and much more.
Image credit: Susanne Hakuba
How it works
Looking for a sewing class recommendation, organic jeans or the best local cobbler? Ask The Good Wardrobe by posting on the forum or searching in our long-life style directory. The idea was born out of the increasing demand for affordable sustainable style, the positive impact of personal creativity, the desire to promote local and ethical industries (plus, when my sewing machine broke I had no idea where to get it fixed – who could I ask?)
Why I am crowdfunding
So far I have self-funded The Good Wardrobe and I've only been able to focus on featuring London and online businesses. Last year I moved to Bristol with my family and I want to expand to cover this incredible city - there are so many amazing organisations here including independent designers, Repair Cafes, charity shops, vintage boutiques, haberdashers and upcycling gurus. I want to bring the best of Bristol's ethical fashion scene under one virtual roof; I want to map them all out, promote them and create your wise guide to Bristol fashion!
Image credit: Morgane Bigault
How you can get involved
If you’ve enjoyed reading The Good Wardrobe over the past 4 or 5 years and think it offers something valuable, then please consider supporting my crowdfund to help me keep the website going and to make it even better. I have put my heart and soul (not to mention time and funds) into making content that's as creative and interesting as possible, and reaching my target will help me to keep it free for users.
And if you’ve never heard of The Good Wardrobe but you like the sound of what it’s all about (or you just like the look of our amazing rewards) then please pledge! I've collaborated with some wonderful brands for the rewards and they're not all Bristol specific (find out more further down the page).
**The crowdfund is supported by Better Bristol, an initiative from Crowdfunder and Bristol Green Capital Partnership. If The Good Wardrobe is one of the first Better Bristol projects to reach 50% of our target, they will match fund the rest. I would be so grateful if you could spread the word and / or pledge as soon as you can Thank you!**
Image Credit: Antiform
Nice things people have said
'Can you fix a broken zip? Can you solve a pocket-placement crisis on a pair of hand-sewn jeans? For guidance on such matters, the Good Wardrobe should be your next port of call. It's a lovingly created hub by ethical fashionista Zoe Robinson, who wants you to embrace slow fashion, but understands that this requires support.'
Lucy Siegle, 'Green Crush' column in The Observer Magazine
'The other day I stumbled upon The Good Wardrobe and my eyes lit up. A website to help make the quest for sustainable fashion easier and more accessible? Yes please!'
Tilly and The Buttons
More nice words can be found on our Pinterest page The Good Wardrobe Press.
Recognition
In 2012 I was appointed London Leader by the London Sustainable Development Commission who supported me in launching The Good Wardrobe, and in March this year I won the Best Fairtrade Advocate Award in the 2017 South West Fairtrade Business Awards. Other recognition includes winning the Highly Commended Award (Fashion) in the 2014 Sustainable City Awards and in 2013 I was shortlisted in the Observer Ethical awards Well Dressed Category.
Bristol Textile Recycler Fashion Salvage Kilo Sale
The Rewards
More details and images coming soon, plus more rewards to be added!
£5 A big thank you and a virtual smile from me (or an actual smile if I see you soon), plus a digital Sew It Forward voucher
£10 Set of 10 postcards from The Good Wardrobe, featuring the beautiful branding and icons designed by graphic designer Laura Yates. Plus a digital Sew It Forward voucher and a big thank you!
£12 Digital Pattern from In The Folds. The Rushcutter is a very cool, very versatile oversized knee-length, A-line dress, designed for woven fabrics, available in two different styles. (These patterns are pdf versions). Plus a digital Sew It Forward voucher and a big thank you.
£15 Complimentary cocktails for 2 at To The Moon in Bristol, plus 20% off any purchase in their ethical fashion boutique. Or 30 mins style advice from To The Moon personal stylist plus 20% off any purchase in the shop.
*Rewards must be redeemed by 28/06/2018. The 20% discount is for one visit. Styling session must be booked in advance. To The Moon occasionally closes for private hire - please contact before visiting: [email protected]
£20 Invitation to The Good Wardrobe Bristol Launch Party - more details will be revealed nearer the time. Plus 20% off at ethical fashion boutique To The Moon, a set of 10 postcards from The Good Wardrobe and a big thank you.
*To The Moon discount must be redeemed by 28/06/2018 and is valid for a single visit. To The Moon occasionally closes for private hire - please contact before visiting: [email protected]
£20 Exclusive invitation to the in-house private Clothes Swap at Bristol Textile Quarter: swap your clothes with some of Bristol’s top designers and makers from Bristol Textile Quarter, Antiform, Dash & Miller, Bristol Weaving Mill.
£25 ‘Stay True to Your Shelf’ large natural cotton drawstring bag with a little selection of carefully sourced notions and / or fabric, a printed Sew It Forward voucher and a big thank you! The bag is perfect for knitting supplies, fabric or a place to keep your clothes that are waiting to be mended. It’s also ideal for laundry when travelling or to put your delicates into so they don’t get damaged in the wash.
£38 Invitation to the VIP afternoon at Bristol Textile Recyclers Fashion Salvage Kilo Sale – we’re hosting this very special event which includes: 3 kilos of clothes in total from the main kilo sale, plus exclusive access to our pick of the best of the Salvage Sale in a private room, with style advice, afternoon tea and an expert-led tour of the BTR facility.
*Additional kilos can be purchased on the day.
£40 EARLY BIRD: Limited Edition Sewing bag made in Bristol by Antiform for The Good Wardrobe: we’re collaborating to design and create the ultimate sewing kit bag made from beautiful vintage fabric handpicked from the Antiform archive. The bag will be lined with cloth upcycled from canvas book bags and will incorporate a handy needle wrap. It will be made to order so when the crowdfund closes, you can choose your favourite from our curated fabrics.
£50 Limited Edition Sewing bag made in Bristol by Antiform for The Good Wardrobe: we’re collaborating to design and create the ultimate sewing kit bag made from beautiful vintage fabric handpicked from the Antiform archive. The bag will be lined with cloth upcycled from canvas book bags and will incorporate a handy needle wrap. It will be made to order so when the crowdfund closes, you can choose your favourite from our curated fabrics.
£65 Limited Edition letterpress print designed & printed by Laura Yates for The Good Wardrobe: 'clothes worth wearing are worth repairing'. The 35x50cm signed print will be in blue and red on white 220gsm Magnani Incisioni paper (50% cotton printmakers paper). Laura created our beautiful branding & we're thrilled to be collaborating on this very special reward which will be printed to order. Photos are of test prints and are indicative of the colour - each print will be hand made and therefore unique so may vary slightly from the photos.
£65 Limited Edition letterpress print designed & printed by Laura Yates for The Good Wardrobe: 'FASHIONS FADE. STYLE IS ETERNAL, Yves Saint Laurent'. The 35x50cm signed print will be in yellow and gold on white 220gsm Magnani Incisioni paper (50% cotton printmakers paper). Laura created our beautiful branding & we're thrilled to be collaborating on this very special reward. Photos are of test prints and indicative of the colour - each print will be hand made and therefore unique so may vary slightly from the photos. *The photos don't do justice to the colour - 'style is eternal' is in gold ink.
£85 Five day membership at Bristol Textile Quarter in their collective, shared workshop space. This is an amazing opportunity for a textile artist / artisan who would like to be part of the community for 5 days. You will have access to their space which includes sewing equipment, cutting tables and more, and can benefit from being a part of the thriving, supportive & exciting community of independent business women, textile artists & makers. You can find out more about Bristol Textile Quarter at www.bristoltextilequarter.co.uk and follow on twitter and instagram,
Ts&Cs: This reward is for a textile artist / artisan who is thinking about starting their own textile business or who has a fledgling textile company. You must be proficient with industrial sewing machines, and equipment use is dependent on experience. Reward to be taken in one week and over five consecutive days. Contact us if you would like more details [email protected].
Image: Bristol Textile Quarter
£115 Trousers plus set of two travel pouches from Matter Prints
The Modern Monpe is tailored version of the Japanese work pant usually worn by fieldworkers or tradesmen, popularized in the war era by villagers who had to rework their kasuri kimonos into trousers to give them more movement. Great for men or women the Modern Monpe has a low-slung waist and a unique front to back closure with easy to wear flexible button closure and D-ring waist belt in sturdy twill. The trousers are 100% cotton, hand tied and dyed with azo-free dyes (seen here in geometric Trikora). The beautiful bundle of two Travel Pouches has been designed to hold your essentials. they measure 20cm by 30cm and 18cm by 18cm. You can select your prints after the crowdfund closes.
£180 For ethical fashion businesses, makers, menders & relevant services – 1 year full directory listing (worth £240 per year). See 'Rewards' in the story section opposite for further details of what you'll receive for pledging.
*Please email info@thegoodwardrobe before pledging to tell us more about what you do so we can confirm if you fulfill our criteria. Find out more on our website: www.thegoodwardrobe.com/advertising-on-the-good-wardrobe
£300 Sponsored content - for ethical fashion businesses, makers, menders & relevant services: we'll carefully create editorial content for our website which we'll share on social media & in our newsletter along with a big thank you for your support
* Please email info@thegoodwardrobe before pledging to tell us more about what you do so we can confirm if you fulfill our criteria. More info here: www.thegoodwardrobe.com/advertising-on-the-good-wardrobe
£300 For businesses keen to offer creative skills to their teams: a half day (3 hours) 'Sew It Forward at Work' session for to 12 people. You'll learn sewing, mending & repair skills, and then have the chance to 'Sew It Forward' by sharing your newfound skills with your colleagues. The workshop can be held at your place of work or another venue of your choice within Bristol (to be booked by you).
£800 For businesses keen to offer creative skills to their teams: a half day (3 hours) 'Sew It Forward at Work' session for to 12 people. You'll learn sewing, mending & repair skills, and then have the chance to 'Sew It Forward' by sharing your newfound skills with your colleagues. The workshop can be held at your place of work or another venue of your choice within Bristol (to be booked by you).
Image: Susanne Hakuba
£1000 Be headline sponsor for the exclusive launch event for The Good Wardrobe Bristol: share your products or services with our guests, your branding on our digital content: event invitation, website editorial, newsletter & social media.
*Please email info@thegoodwardrobe before pledging to tell us more about what you do so we can confirm if you fulfill our criteria. More info on our website: www.thegoodwardrobe.com/advertising-on-the-good-wardrobe
£2000 Sponsorship of The Good Wardrobe Bristol for 1 year which includes: your branding on the Bristol section of the directory, vertical banner advert, mentions in our editorial, newsletter and social media platforms. And a huge thank you!
*Please email info@thegoodwardrobe before pledging to tell us more about what you do so we can confirm if you fulfill our criteria. More info on our website: www.thegoodwardrobe.com/advertising-on-the-good-wardrobe
Video: Nim Jethwa (thank you so much Nim for the lovely work!)