Kate’s film

Kate Stockport’s love of fashion began at age four, dressing up in her mum’s clothes and designing outfits for paper dolls. Fashion became her way to express herself, and as a teen, she dreamed of creating designs for others to wear. She says, "Self-expression for me is having that sense of self and the way I dress, showing off my personality and what I'm interested in."

At university, during her studies and industry placement, she faced the harsh realities of fast fashion, grappling with burnout and the industry's negative impact on people and the planet. "I've always wanted to do something fulfilling and positive, without a negative impact on the world. It changed what I wanted to do with my entire life."

She took a break and found inspiration in thrifting meetups on social media, where like-minded individuals embraced second-hand and sustainable fashion. "I can get back into the fashion industry through secondhand clothes because they already exist. It's better to upcycle or rewear them so they don't end up in landfill."

Kate is passionate about inspiring change in her community of Heywood. Through her Swap Co-op initiative, a free community clothes swap, she has encouraged people to embrace sustainable fashion practices. "It made me proud to see people swapping clothes for the first time and wanting to keep doing it," she says.

Now, Kate channels her creativity into upcycling, expressing her personality through sustainable clothing. Her mission is to inspire ethical choices and collaborate with brands that prioritise people and the planet. "I want to be a de-influencer, encouraging sustainable mindsets and positive change for people and the planet."

Keep up to date with Kate, follow k8s.upd8s on Instagram / TikTok