After the huge success of O3 Gallery’s ‘Ethical Fashion Fest’ in March which formed part of Oxford Fashion Week 2011, the gallery made a commitment to continue its support and encouragement of sustainably produced fashion and design.

The O3 Ethical Fashion Project, a not-for-profit project run by O3 Gallery, is setting its sights on a larger-scale fashion show in 2012 that is able to offer a wider display of UK-based ethical designers, as well as other related events intended to provoke, educate and inspire. The project must raise the money needed to present such a showcase and consequently has applied for a Procter & Gamble Future Friendly award.

In their four year, the P&G Future Friendly awards exist to acknowledge great environmental efforts across the UK and Ireland. For Community Groups, such as the O3 Ethical Fashion Project, there is the chance of winning a regional award of up to £1,000, with regional winners going forward to compete for a national prize of £10,000 to put towards their work.

Here’s how to vote:
Follow the link: http://www.futurefriendly.co.uk/vote.aspx
Click on the ‘South’ region option (on the left hand side of the screen)
There is only one project in Oxfordshire – that’s us! Click on it.
Click on ‘find out more’
Click VOTE NOW

In 2011 the project achieved:

• Eco-Fashion Market: A promotional platform for desirable sustainable fashion and talented artisans who are fighting against fast disposable fashion.
• Eco-Fashion Show: A sell out fashion show which received an extremely positive response from both the public and local press. It contributed to widening the appeal of Oxford Fashion Week through creating events that are accessible to everyone and communicate the incredibly relevant message of consumer responsibility.
• Discussion: An interesting ethical debate, educating participants about the social & moral issues behind the fashion industry and posing further important questions.
• Clothes-swap: An event that illustrated the value of ‘up-cycling’.
• Ethical Fashion Gig: A concert ‘championing’ the cause. This was an opportunity for the project to make
  money through ticket sales to help pay for other parts of the festival (flyers etc).