Words: Laura Dare

In a world of fast fashion, Megan Caldersmith is hitting the brakes. As the owner of McLaren Vale’s She Sews and the mastermind behind the region's first Recycled Runway event, Megan shows that style and sustainability are a winning combination.

Megan grew up in a family of skilled sewers. "My grandmother taught me when I was about five," she says. "She was a tailor, and my mum was an incredible sewer."

This early exposure to sewing laid the foundation for her career in fashion. After starting a Bachelor of Fine Art, Megan realised she wanted a more commercial path and pursued an Associate Diploma of Fashion at TAFE SA. Then, with her best friend and business partner Nicky Atkinson, she bought and revitalised a rundown bridal business called Betrothed in Norwood, which they ran for 12 years. "Doing custom wedding gowns was my number one passion and what I absolutely love doing," she says.

Megan and her husband, a winemaker, moved to the Fleurieu Peninsula 10 years ago, drawn by its natural beauty and vibrant community. "We love it so much. We will never leave," she says. "It has absolutely everything – beach, wineries, it's semi-rural. We can walk everywhere or ride our bikes."

Megan has immersed herself in the local McLaren Vale community. She is an active member of the McLaren Vale Business and Tourism Association and organises the annual Christmas pageant. "We’ve always lived where we work," she says. "We like living right in the heart of our community."

At She Sews, Megan offers a range of services that showcase her 25 years of experience in the fashion industry. "I just love sewing – in whatever form it takes," she says. Her business specialises in made-to-measure bridal and evening wear, expert alterations and specialty tailoring. From creating custom wedding gowns to altering school uniforms, she breathes new life into garments of all kinds – ensuring fewer textiles end up in landfill.

One of her passions is working with vintage wedding dresses. "I do a lot of altering for brides of their mother's wedding dresses. Recently, the trend of wearing that as a second dress has become popular. That's one of my favourite things to do."

This blend of old and new perfectly encapsulates Megan's approach to fashion – honouring the past while embracing sustainable practices for the future.

Megan's commitment to sustainability extends beyond her day-to-day work at She Sews. This year, with the McLaren Vale Business and Tourism Association and the City of Onkaparinga, she organised the first Recycled Runway McLaren Vale event, which was a massive success.

The event challenged participants to create wearable garments from pre-loved clothing.

"People paid, registered their interest, and came to She Sews to pick up a bag of five pre-loved garments," Megan says. "They had about six weeks to come up with a wearable garment, and then they paraded them on the catwalk "

The event, in which competitors of all ages and sizes showed off their creations at Wirra Wirra Winery, was a huge hit, with 67 registrations, 42 final entries and a sell-out crowd. More importantly, it sparked conversations about sustainable fashion in the community.

"I had customers coming in to my shop telling me they had had no idea about the environmental toll of fast fashion, no idea about people working in the industry being underpaid, and that they were going to change their spending habits," Megan says.

“Australia's the number one polluter per capita in the world at the moment when it comes to fashion. All that landfill – it’s so depressing. We’re ruining the natural world with what we’re doing right now, but we have an opportunity to stop that.”

“I just feel like instead of being overwhelmed, I can do something that makes me sleep at night and perhaps changes some people's views, and surely that's better than nothing.”

Building on this success, Megan is already planning next year's Recycled Runway, which will include a category for wearable art or costuming.

"Textile art and recycling have always been passions of mine. I love vintage, I love history, and I'm really sentimental. I'm just really enjoying the recycling and upcycling at the moment, but that naturally leads into wearable art and textiles. They're all linked.”

She Sews also hosted Recycled Rumble events held over two weekends in June and July to promote circular fashion. People could sell their preloved fashion for a commission, or buy vintage to refresh their wardrobe. The Friday night openings were community parties, featuring a DJ, wine and food.

“Then I was open all day Saturday and Sunday both those weekends where people can just come and shop pre-loved garments," Megan says. The Recycled Rumble aims to provide affordable, stylish options for the local community while promoting sustainable fashion.

For those looking to make more sustainable fashion choices, Megan offers practical advice. "I would have a look at what's available and what you think you'll wear over and over again," she suggests. "Even if it's a pair of jeans, instead of buying four pairs of jeans just buy one and wear them all the time and cherish them."

She also advocates for investing in quality pieces and considering pre-loved options. "Go and spend money on pieces that you will wear a lot and then buy pre-loved to wear with them," she says. "I would really use the word considered – make considered purchasing decisions."

"Just make some small changes," she says. "You don't have to change the world. You just need to change some habits and consider what's in your wardrobe."

As Megan begins planning Recycled Runway MV 2025, she's excited about the potential for sustainable fashion in the region. With She Sews as a hub for custom creations and alterations, and events like Recycled Runway inspiring the community, Megan is stitching together a future where fashion and sustainability go hand in hand.

Find out more about Megan Caldersmith at shesews.com.au or follow recycledrunwaymv on Instagram and Facebook.