The town is getting behind Transition Town’s fashion revolution to campaign against climate change.

A series of events to highlight the impact the fashion industry has on the environment have been organised, with the most recent being the ‘Love Your Clothes’ event at Soulshine café, with cake and punch donated by owner Lisa Loader.

A spokesman for Transition Town Bridport, said: “Our clothes are a witness to our lives and special clothes often accompany us to the key events.

“Mostly women but two gutsy fun men arrived, each person wearing or carrying clothes special to them, most willing to stand up and talk about why their clothes mattered. Amid laughter, emotion and applause we heard stories of weddings, parents, lifestyles and lives in other countries, all expressed through the clothes.”

Raja Jarrah explained how we shared a love for sewing with his Palestinian aunt. After she passed away, Raja returned to her house and found a dress she made. He described how he cut off the bottom and turned it into a shirt, also using the same buttons.

He stood in the shirt before the group at Soulshine to the applause of the audience and said: “I loved my aunt as much as I love my shirt.”

Rosie Mathisen talked about trawling the charity shops with her best friend on their birthdays, She was wearing a jacket and a coat she had bought on those occasions and still loves. She then showed her wedding dress from 1975 by Laura Ashley.

Anne Rickard showed a sun dress bought in New Zealand and Celia Marsh brought a baptism outfit she had made for a nine-month-old baby out of a petticoat and other christening dresses kept in the loft.

“Many people said how powerfully memories came back when wearing items from the past.

“The event was partly about cherishing garments carrying memories from the past. But the fashion revolution message for today is also about choosing carefully, keeping things a long time and loving them. Turn them into cushions if you want to and make them work, but don’t throw them away.”

Transition Town Bridport organiser, Lesley Windsor - who was wearing a blouse she had had made in 1993 as a teacher in Abu Dhabi made by a tailor called Abdullah - thanked the group for sharing and urged people to support the fashion revolution.

The next Bridport Fashion Revolution event is ‘Get Swishing’ a clothes swap on March 17 at Bridport Youth and Community Centre. Participants must bring at least one item to swap, including clothes, shoes, jewellery, bags etc, but all need to be washed and in good condition.

For more information, visit transitiontownbridport.co.uk