COUTURE has long lost its popularity with the rise of cheap, mass-produced clothing—but it will be coming back into vogue in Fremantle this month with the help of three fashionistas.

Donned in a hand-printed and stitched dress from India, Bibi Vintage & Fair Trade shop owner Gaelle Beech told the Herald more people would cherish their clothes if they knew how and where their outfits were produced.

To get that message across, Ms Beech and like-minded colleagues at Fair Trade Freo are hosting their second annual fashion parade, showing ethically produced garments.

All clothes on the Fairly Fashionable? catwalk are made by 60 local and interstate designers using materials from across the globe produced under fair and sustainable conditions.

“When I grew up, my mum used to make my clothes,” says Ms Beech. “There’s a special—emotional—attachment to clothes when you know about how they came to be.” She wants to influence the next generation of designers by promoting quality, ethical clothing.

Designers received different shapes and patterns of material on April 1 and have 17 days to make a garment or outfit before their deadline, a week before the April 24 show.

Jasmin Jones was given a stretch of Indonesian batik-print material, which she will mix with organic wax cotton to make a dress.

“Just think of it like this: if you bought a mass-produced $5 shirt, do you know how much—or little—the grower got for the cotton or what chemicals were used on it and the subsequent impact on the environment?” she asks. “I always stop and think, ‘do I need this?’ … because the world is just overloaded with crap. Good quality clothes come with longevity.”

Proceeds go to Khmer Creations, a social enterprise helping train and employ Cambodian women, for a new daycare centre. The $20 show starts at 6.30pm, at Victoria Hall on High St, Fremantle. Bookings are essential. Visit trybooking.com. For more information, email info@fashionable.com.au.

by EMMIE DOWLING