IN AN attempt to tackle the waste caused by the clothes industry, one fashion designer is piloting a project in Chippenham to teach people how to recycle and reuse their clothes.

Re:fashion My Town is a campaign founded by Tze Ching Yeung, who owns award-winning children's clothing brand Jake and Maya, who strives to make people aware of the impact 'fast-fashion' has on the environment.

A sustainability pop up shop is opening on September 14 in Emery Gate, Chippenham, where people will be able to learn how to recycle and reuse their clothes to reduce wast, for free.

In the UK, it is estimated that £140m of used, but still wearable, clothing is buried in landfill every year.

Tze has said that her 'ultimate aim' with the new project is to reduce this high number.

She said: "We want to inspire people to have clothes that they'll love to wear, time and again, that don't cost the earth.

"It will be important to teach children how to mend their clothes to stop people throwing them away as soon as they get a hole in them. A lot of people now just don't know how to fix their clothes.

"Fast fashion is a big problem within the waste issue; a lot of unsold clothes are thrown into landfill as well."

Re:fashion My Town will also be holding workshops at nearby colleges, at the pop up shop and at Chippenham Museum.

The pop up shop is only possible because of funding from Chippenham Borough Lands Charity and Chippenham BID, and with the support of Emery Gate who have helped Tze to put up the shop.

Zero Chippenham, MAD about Waste and other local environmental groups will also be co-located within the shop.

Sue Cassell, founder of MAD about Waste, said: “It’s a privilege to be involved with this pioneering campaign, and it’s fantastic that Chippenham has been chosen as the pilot town."