SINGAPORE – Hong Lim Park will see Singapore’s largest T-shirt swop, alongside a host of other eco-friendly activities, on July 13 during the 2024 edition of ground-up sustainability festival GreenParade: Wake Up and Swap.
The “youth-empowered” initiative, organised by approximately 20 youth volunteers from Singapore-based eco-innovation collective GreenSpace+, aims to foster a community of sustainability enthusiasts of all ages while promoting the adoption of sustainable living practices among the public.
Singaporeans are encouraged to bring their pre-loved T-shirts to personalise and exchange during the swop led by Fashion Parade, a Gen Z-led company centred on sustainable and upcycled fashion.
What to expect
Besides clothing swops, attendees at the event from 4pm to 10pm can expect plant and vinyl record exchanges, as well as a series of free hands-on workshops in collaboration with over 20 Singapore-based partner organisations, covering a range of sustainability practices from DIY patch-making and 3D plastic recycling, to terrarium-creation and food-growing workshops.
Live music by local artists will also be heard, and 13 youth advocates from the GreenSpace+ community will share about their sustainability passions at Speakers’ Corner.
Founder of GreenSpace+ Gina Sim pointed out that sustainability projects in Singapore frequently attract a small, often-familiar group of eco-enthusiasts.
“With GreenParade, we want to encourage more young people to come together, hang out, and join the fight for sustainability,” she said. The group aims to draw 500 participants for the July 13 event.
GreenSpace+ hopes to build a stronger community and foster a collective mindset of eco-champions who recognise the importance of sustainable living, she added.
Twenty-year-old university student Saw Yun Ya, who plans to attend the event to show support for the eco-conscious youth community, said: “It’s a good opportunity to meet other like-minded people and to learn about sustainability in a more engaging way.
“I’m just thankful that there are more young people actively working to raise awareness about sustainability (issues),” she added. Ms Saw is currently pursuing her bachelor’s degree in environmental studies at the National University of Singapore.
GreenParade 2024 follows a successful debut at Bedok Open Field in 2023. It is supported by Go Green SG 2024 – Singapore’s nationwide sustainability campaign – which is helmed by the Ministry of Sustainability and the Environment.
Members of the public may sign up for free to attend GreenParade: Wake Up and Swap 2024 on Eventbrite.
Participants are encouraged to bring picnic foods to enjoy the event, which is also pet-friendly. Due to regulations specific to Hong Lim Park, only Singapore citizens and permanent residents can enter the event grounds.
Go Green SG 2024 will run till July 14. Members of the public can register online for the various Go Green SG activities at www.gogreen.gov.sg.