Need something special to wear this festive season? Oswestry library users can now borrow special evening wear thanks to new initiative

Local library users at Oswestry can now enjoy the benefits of hiring special evening wear and outfits for the festive season and beyond thanks to a new initiative that aims to transform the way people approach fashion.

Left to right: Siobhan Shaw, Library Operations & Development Manager at Oswestry Library and Lizzie Dibble, founder of With Love From…

In collaboration with the local sustainable fashion project With Love From…, the Shropshire Shared Wardrobe will enable local library card holders to borrow special occasion outfits just as they would borrow books.

Pilot project

Initially a pilot scheme, the project in collaboration with Shropshire Council’s Oswestry Library service launched on 25 November and will run for one month. During this time, attendees are invited to donate items to the shared wardrobe, browse a 200-item loanable festive collection, and provide feedback and pledge their support. The success of the pilot project will guide future developments, with hopes to expand the collection next year to include more items and broaden the offer to encompass children’s party wear.

With Love From… is a community project managed by local volunteers committed to reducing the environmental and ethical impact of fashion. The project encourages people to slow down their shopping habits and instead repair, re-wear, share, and care for existing clothing. By creating a shared wardrobe of occasion-wear, the project supports a community of conscientious shoppers who can donate party clothing, footwear, and accessories to earn points redeemable at pop-up shops or appointments.

The Shropshire Shared Wardrobe seeks to make beautiful, sustainable fashion accessible to everyone. Lizzie Dibble, founder of With Love From…, expressed her enthusiasm for the project, Lizzie said:

“There are so many benefits to sharing our wardrobes, not only to us personally, but also to our local community and to other communities all around the world. On average, it is estimated that British people throw away 72 items of clothing every year, so by sharing our wardrobes we are reducing the amount of clothing sent to landfill and providing local, sustainable clothing waste options for people in North Shropshire.”

The Shropshire Shared Wardrobe not only offers cost-effective solutions for otherwise expensive occasion wear but also extends the useful life of clothing.

Lizzie Dibble emphasized the environmental benefits, noting,

“If we can extend the life of clothing by just 9 months of active use, it would reduce waste, water, and carbon footprints by around 20-30%.”

Councillor Robert Macey, Cabinet Member for Culture and Digital, expressed his support for the initiative saying:

“The Shropshire Shared Wardrobe is a fantastic example of how we can innovate to support sustainability and community well-being. This initiative showcases the power of community collaboration in promoting sustainable living. By supporting the Shropshire Shared Wardrobe, residents can contribute to a more sustainable future while enjoying the benefits of a diverse and stylish wardrobe.”

Siobhan Shaw, Library Operations & Development Manager at Oswestry Library, shared her excitement for the project:

“We are so proud to be supporting this project with Lizzie and together, we believe that we can increase visibility and accessibility of sustainable fashion options for local people.

“Public libraries are fundamental to the sharing economy and as such are committed to both protecting the planet and supporting their clientele to borrow more and spend less, while working with communities to minimize financial barriers to the information, equipment, and resources they require.

“This is achieved by exciting collaborations like this one, and by supporting communities to connect and share what they have with others, whether it is their skills, their knowledge, their art, or even their unwanted clothes,”

Pledge your support!

People can pledge their support for the pilot project by visiting Shropshire Shared Wardrobe.

For further information on Oswestry Library visit: Oswestry Library | Shropshire Council.