A collaborative project aimed at promoting sustainable fashion have just received funding from the National Lottery, Awards for All.

Fashion Fusion CIC, a community interest company based in Doncaster, South Yorkshire are launching a collaborative project aimed to reducing the amount of clothing waste by up cycling unsaleable clothes and textiles donated by Age UK Sheffield and Doncaster.

The project, called Pilot Initiative Roots to Renewal, is a collaborative project with Fashion Fusion CIC, Plantaura CIC, World Women Wellbeing CIC, and Artfelt.

They aim to make buying and selling clothing more sustainable by raising awareness about the environmental impact of fast fashion.

The chemicals from fast fashion clothing dyes and the treatment used is a significant water polluter.

According to Earth.org, 85% of all textiles are thrown away each year and the microfibres within the clothing pollutes the ocean to the equivalent of 50 billion plastic water bottles.

The project has received almost £20,000 in funding from the Awards for All program managed by the National lottery community Fund which provides funding for projects that improve communities and the lives of people within them.

Estelle Pearce, Director of Fashion Fusion CIC said: “We’re bursting with excitement after receiving Awards for All funding”

“We can’t wait to get started-bringing projects that will inspire, connect, and grow with our community.”

This initiative, launching in June 2025, aims to build skills, collaboration, and environmental stewardship, with various hands-on workshops hosted across Doncaster where they teach people how extract dyes from plants, flowers and food waste to encourage greener habits and give clothes a second life.

Ms Pearce said: “Roots to renewal is about connecting people to nature and trying to get them to think about where our clothes come from.”

Plantaura, Artfelt, and Fashion Fusion will also be part of Doncaters Remake Festival (22nd – 30th May 2025) with seed planting, eco-printing, tea making and sewing events taking place in Denaby and Cantley. They intend to host a fashion festival in 2026.

Receiving this funding is the first step to building a greener community but they still need more help.

“Discover the joy of slow fashion and join us in creating a more sustainable wardrobe.” Get involved here: https://www.rootstorenewal.co.uk/