Become Your Favourite Character
Tackling post-pandemic loneliness by setting up a costume library for creating and borrowing costumes, promoting community engagement and encouraging sustainable fashion.
The Local Challenge
In post-pandemic society, adults are increasingly struggling to find new communities and establish relationships, leading to loneliness and disconnection. This has significant health impacts, comparable to smoking 15 cigarettes a day, according to PLOS Medicine. In Zilina, many people work in the IT sector, fostering a rising interest in creative techniques as a counterbalance to digital life. Although crafting and making things can bring people together, current trends in single-use costumes for events are contributing to landfill waste and water pollution from microplastics.
The Initiative
Become Your Favourite Character is creating a costume library where people can borrow outfits for various events, supported by a bi-monthly Costume Club. This initiative benefits children, low-income earners and women who can share and learn new skills including 3D printing. It bridges generational gaps, fostering connections between young people and the elderly, and offers a safe space for people experiencing loneliness – helping to weave new community connections. Ethnic minorities can also share their traditional costumes, helping to promote cultural exchange. For a small fee, local people can borrow costumes, which helps to encourage sustainability and reduce waste.
What’s Next?
The Žilina library is planning to integrate costumes into its reading events and hopes to organise costume parties for both children and adults. In the future, they envisage a mini library-con where attendees dress as their favourite characters and interact with local authors during book talks, turning the library into a vibrant hub for creativity and connection.
Contact theeuropechallenge@culturalfoundation.eu if you have any questions or want to be connected with the team behind the project.
