Continuing our virtual Climate Café where we look at people and places making a positive contribution to our future. By Benita Matofska
The Climate Fashion Destination: Circles
More than a store, this new Brighton gem of a place prides itself on being a home for the circular economy. And it’s easy to see why. Beautifully curated, high quality pre-loved clothes and creatively repaired pieces brush shoulders with timeless homewares just waiting to be rediscovered and reloved.
Circles was founded by Brighton-born ethical fashion aficionado Jules Hau. With over 30 years spent in eco fashion, Jules is on a mission to inspire a sustainable, mindful and creative lifestyle. It’s not just about circles of fashion, but circles of wellbeing and community too. Downstairs hosts a treasure trove of second-hand designer, boutique, vintage clothes and accessories. On my recent visit I found brands ranging from Isabel Marant, Diane Von Furstenburg, Stella McCartney, to my personal favourite Essential Antwerp. All the glamour minus the guilt – so I snapped up a vintage Biba silk, embroidered, red-green-orange top.
But Circles is more than your average consignment store. Yes, you can sell your designer items by appointment, or discover something unique to buy, but upstairs is another part of the story. Here you’ll find a wellbeing space offering massage, qi-gong, mindful treatments and sustainably focussed events. I’m something of a connoisseur of Brighton’s many pre-loved haunts, but Circles feels different. Maybe it’s Jules’s innate knowledge of ethical fashion, or her personal style that’s infused throughout. I can’t help but feel that it’s her loveliness and genuine care for the planet that will warm the heart of any discerning eco fashionista.
Circles Store is open Tuesday to Sunday and can be found at 21-23 Church Street, BN1 1RB. For info: https://www.circlesstore.co.uk/
The Climate Network: Climate Women
OK so full disclosure (now she tells us), Jules is also Co-founder of Climate Women, an initiative we started together in January this year. The concept is simple – a monthly circle and network for women who are passionate about the planet. We gather (in the Circles wellbeing space) on the last Wednesday of the month to create, support, swap ideas and deliver climate action. Having been active as a speaker, writer and campaigner, with most of my activities focussed nationally and globally, it felt time to turn attention to starting something on my Brighton doorstep.
Both Jules and I feel that given women’s role in taking climate action, it’s time to build something for ourselves. Notably, women lead on political environmental change, and once elected to office are more likely to deliver social and climate legislation – from Caroline Lucas, to Jacinda Ardern, Christiana Figueres, and Wangaari Mathai. Women lead more eco lifestyles too. A British study by Mintel showed that 71% of women try to live more ethically compared to 59% of men.
In the global South, women recycle more frequently, buy organic food and support energy efficiency. Women are also building more sustainable businesses, with greater investments into environmentally friendly business processes to reduce emissions. But all this comes at a price, with many women climate actors suffering burnout, climate anxiety and depressions. Climate Women provides a safe space to talk, listen, create and act. It has proven to be popular with (each event sold out well in advance. Each circle focusses on a theme from climate optimism, to wellbeing and our relationship with fashion.
We make individual pledges to act, as we believe small actions create ripples of impact and lead to big change. March saw our first local fundraiser in aid of The Real Junk Food Project raising £600 in a two-hour clothes swap bonanza. We’ve been asked to bring Climate Women to other cities, but for now at least our focus is to think global and change local.
Climate Women events take place on the last Wednesday of the month from 6.30 – 9pm at Circles, 21-23 Church Street, BN1 1RB.
The Climate Event: The Great Big Green Week (June 8th-16th)
The UK’s biggest ever celebration of community action to tackle climate change, protect nature and talk about local action. The theme this year is ‘swap together for good’ – inspiring swaps created by communities to make a better tomorrow. Climate Women are joining forces with the lovely folks at the community-owned Exeter Street Hall who are organising the Prestonville Great Big Green Weekend on June 8 & 9. On Sunday 9th, we’ll be delivering another clothes swap from 2.30pm with tea, coffee and cakes. Funds raised will support Exteter Street Hall and The Real Junk Food Project. You can sign up for plant and pot swaps, the Prestonville litter pick, a skills share (learn to crochet?); there’s bug house making for kids or why not join the repair café? What’s not to love?
Prestonville Great Big Green Weekend will take place on Saturday 8th and Sunday 9th June at Exeter Street Hall, For more info visit: https://exeterstreethall.org/ For The Great Big Green Week full list of events visit https://greatbiggreenweek.com/
Benita Matofska is a public speaker, writer, consultant and author of Generation Share, available from independent bookstores. Each copy is ethically produced, feeds and educates a girl in the slums in Mumbai and plants a tree.
The Whistler 