ITHACA, N.Y. — There will be a special market in Ithaca this weekend that will focus on ethical fashion, individual style and education. There will be used clothing and vintage items for sale, along with lessons in mending, a raffle, cider tasting and more.
The market, called Rebellion Bazaar, will be open from 2:30 to 6 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 3 in the Community School of Music and Arts Ballroom, on the third floor of 330 E. MLK Jr./State St., Ithaca. The event will feature more than a dozen “regional clothing enthusiasts” who will be reselling curated items from their own closets, sewists and businesses and organizations, including The Vintage Industry, Cornell Costume and Textiles Collection and the Finger Lakes ReUse Center.
As the name suggests, the event is intended as a resistance to the harmful aspects of the fashion industry, including the exploitation of workers and pollution.
“The fashion industry is one of the biggest polluters on the planet, and continues to exploit workers around the globe,” Grace Ritter, an event organizer stated. “Learning how to make our clothing last longer, by mending it and altering it, by knowing how to clean it and by sharing it with others is one of the ways we can reduce our carbon footprint. Coming together as a group to swap, sell and skillshare is a way for us to celebrate the art of dressing. I love expressing myself through clothing and I love hunting for a new treasure for my wardrobe. By shopping from each other’s closets, we make a personal connection, which enhances the meaning of each garment purchased.”
Clothing sales and online shopping have exploded in popularity in the last 10 to 15 years, giving rise to “fast fashion,” which churns out on-trend, low-quality, cheap clothing that is sometimes only worn a few times before being tossed. As clothing has become more accessible and affordable, and production continues to rise to meet demand, the environmental impact, too, is climbing. Making textiles and apparel requires a lot of fuel, water, land, and labor.
Though fast fashion is growing, many people are also focusing on how to waste less, shop used, and mend garments rather than replace them. Ritter said the idea grew from a few people who wanted to do a clothing sale. “Some people are doing a sort of full stop on buying new clothes, but a lot of us have really great clothes in their closets that might not work for us right now. We wanted to share the wealth,” Ritter said.
She said the Rebellion Bazaar will create a space to sell and exchange used clothing and celebrate creativity, Ritter said. While the fashion industry is bleak in a lot of ways, Ritter said she has always been inspired by the creativity behind fashion, costumes and clothing. “Individual style can be so fun and is such an important thing. We still need to have celebrations. We still need to have art, and this is a great form to express yourself on a daily basis.”
She said the event will be a way for members of the community to celebrate individual style, learn how to reduce their carbon footprint, keep money local and learn new skills.
There will be a raffle at the market, and funds raised will benefit the Refugee and Immigrant Center for Education and Legal Services and Extinction Rebellion.
There will also be cider tastings from Finger Lakes Cider House and Eve’s Cidery, live music by Good Áine, mending demonstrations and a raffle with prizes from several local businesses, including The Watershed, Petrune and others.
Learn more and see updates at the Facebook event here.