Solution to fast fashion by local entrepreneur

A Chippenham entrepreneur is hoping her dream of inspiring young people to use fashion more sustainably will become a reality after successfully being selected by the Aster Foundation social incubator, inc.

Tze Ching Yeung set up her social enterprise, Refashion My Town to help young people in Chippenham find their identity and purpose through pre-loved fashion, music, and art.

Through selling pre-loved clothing, providing environmental education and skills programmes around sewing/mending and textile waste reduction, Refashion My Town is hoping to build a likeminded community who believe in sustainability.

Tze Ching  said: “Through repurposing fashion we’re also reconnecting our communities. I want to inspire young people to take responsibility, reduce, reuse, refashion and mend more. Being part of the inc. programme means we can amplify our impact and make a real difference.”

Applicants from all over the UK applied to be part of the Aster Foundation inc. programme. Its aim is to develop businesses with a social purpose such as those tackling homelessness, mental health, financial exclusion, unemployment, and sustainability.

Tze Ching has now begun the inc. ten-month business development programme, designed to bring her ideas to market and connect with potential partners and investors.

Chris Stenlake, Aster Foundation head of social impact, said: “Social innovation, community and collaboration is at the heart of everything we do. We are thrilled that Refashion My Town is part of inc. and supporting our work around sustainability.”

The Aster Foundation is the registered charity of local housing association Aster Group and is working to enable the better lives of at least 40,000 people by 2030.

Aster Group is committed to having a positive impact on its people and communities. The housing association has recently benchmarked its ESG credentials against the United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goals (UN SDGs). The housing association has set zero waste to landfill and 95% waste recovery targets, which has already been achieved for all wastes with the exception of asbestos. You can find out more in its Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) Report.