RESIDENTS brought their old clothes and swapped them for new ones at an event on Portland.

A clothes swap was held at Easton Methodist Church on the island last Saturday by the group Portland 4 the Planet.

The event aimed to highlight the impact of the fashion industry on the earth.

There were clothes of all shapes and sizes on offer and according to organisers – everyone who brought clothes came away with a brand-new outfit.

Fiona Marlow said: “We’ve had a lot of people attend today, it has been very successful.

“There’s been lots of people going away with new outfits and thinking it was a good idea.

“We will be holding another event in a few weeks’ time and are hoping to make it a regular thing.”

She added: “It’s about reducing the amount of clothes which go to landfill and swapping rather than buying new outfits, so we’re not contributing to global emissions.”

Information leaflets given to visitors said how the fashion industry was the second largest industrial polluter after the oil industry, and that the fashion industry produces 1.2 billion tons of greenhouse gas emissions each year, which is more than flying and shipping.

Concerns were also raised about how cotton doesn’t decompose and growing it requires a high level of water and damaging pesticides.

Laura Baldwin of Portland 4 the Planet said: “It’s about reusing and reducing what we buy and what goes to landfill.

“The emissions produced from the fashion industry are more than aviation and shipping combined.”

Also attending the event was Jazz Hogben of The Slow Lanes, which upcycles clothes.

She said: “I love style and fashion and that it’s a part of people’s identity, but fashion shouldn’t cost the earth.

“I think people are starting to think more about it.”

Jay Kersley-Smith who was helping Jazz with her stall, said: “When people see the stuff Jazz makes, the purses and bags, I think they expect the item to look a certain way, maybe a bit tacky.

“But when people have seen this stuff today and realised that they can be made out of materials, they’re surprised.”

Portland 4 the Planet will be holding a toy swap at Fancy’s Farm on Saturday, March 28 from 11am to 1pm.