Unique fashion show in Tottenham Green celebrates 'ageing well'

The vibrant community event celebrated creativity, confidence and positive ageing

Older residents in Haringey took to the catwalk in style as part of a unique fashion show outside Tottenham Town Hall.

The ‘Big Swish and Swagger Fashion Show’ was a vibrant community event celebrating creativity, confidence and positive ageing.

Held to coincide with this year’s Age Without Limits Day the fashion show featured original garments created by participants attending weekly upcycling workshops organised by Haringey Reach and Connect.

Led by fashion designer Donald Waugh of Pavement2Catwalk CIC and hosted at The Old Nursery in Tottenham Green, the workshops encouraged participants to transform recycled materials and second-hand clothing donated by charity Traid into striking fashion pieces.

The event was supported through funding from the Centre for Ageing Better and Haringey People Need Parks, and it formed part of the national Age Without Limits campaign, which aims to challenge ageism and celebrate the value of older people in society.

More than a fashion show, the event also brought together local organisations offering information on social activities, walking groups, health and wellbeing programmes, and support services available to older residents across Haringey.

The Big Swish and Swagger Fashion Show demonstrated that creativity and self-expression have no age limit while encouraging the wider community to rethink stereotypes associated with ageing.

An array of colourful outfits were shown off during the event

Participants spoke positively about the experience and the opportunity to showcase their talents. One said: “I’m on a journey to show that life can be just as exciting, vibrant and rewarding in our later years. Let’s celebrate us, just as we are.”

By celebrating older people’s creativity, resilience and confidence, the event helped shine a spotlight on the importance of challenging ageism and creating communities where everyone can age without limits.

Haringey Reach and Connect is a borough-wide service commissioned by Haringey Council and delivered by Public Voice and Mind in Haringey. It provides information, support and guidance to local people over 50 through six ‘community connectors’ who work from a range of settings, like community organisations, libraries, GP surgeries and community buildings.

Age Without Limits is the Centre for Ageing Better’s campaign to challenge ageism for the benefit of all of us as we grow older. Their vision is to create a society where everyone enjoys later life free from the impact of ageism. Age Without Limits Day is an annual day for us all to come together and take action to end ageism.

Local news needs your support

We are proud that we were at the forefront of reporting on the recent local elections. We can’t do this without the support of our readers.

Independent news outlets like ours – reporting for the community without rich backers – are under threat of closure, turning British towns into news deserts.

If our coverage has helped you understand our community a little bit better, please consider supporting us with a monthly, yearly or one-off donation.