IT'S the ultimate in green chic - recycling tired old clothes to make fabulous new fashions. And one Manchester designer, Charlotte Keyworth, is leading the way.

What could be more ethical than taking tatty cast-offs and transforming them into stylish dresses, not only saving valuable landfill space but carbon footprints, too?

Now Charlotte's fantastic frocks are being spotted on the likes of supermodel Eva Herzigova, proving that it's not only fairly manufactured but fabulous too.

She says: "I couldn't believe it when I saw it - I was so pleased. There she was wearing this dress and talking about her lifestyle and how she has become all `eco'. It was really overwhelming and just goes to show what you can achieve when you do something good and something for charity."

Based in her Northern Quarter shop, Junk, her Jumble label has sold more than 300 dresses in Oxfam Boutique, and Charlotte has been approached by clothing outlets from across Europe, including Topshop.

Contemporary twist

Anna Thorne, from Oxfam, says: "People love the quirky individuality of the dresses. Charlotte has a great eye for bringing a piece right up to date and giving any vintage dress a contemporary twist."

Charlotte and boyfriend Dan Clark first became involved in ethical fashion after becoming concerned about the trend towards disposable fashion.

Junk was the solution - a shop fitted exclusively with `rescued' items and selling almost exclusively recycled or ethical fashion.

But being the brains and the needle and thread behind Jumble isn't the only thing keeping 28-year-old Charlotte busy ... now Manchester's style-savvy can benefit from her new customising service.

It's the perfect solution in these make do and mend times of credit crunch shopping woes and environmental worries.

So I decided to try the service out for myself. I dug out a sack-like vintage find with high potential and low wear-ability and delivered it to the shop.

Spirit

Alongside seamstress Barbara Bienias, Charlotte works magic on old clothes. Besides creating clothes for Jumble, and Charlotte's own label for Junk (Made In The Mill), the pair now spend much of their time altering clothes for thrifty fashionistas. Charlotte says: "I am not destroying the vintage clothes and making something new, I am keeping the spirit of the garment."

So how did it work with my tired and tatty old charity shop find?

Where once there were bell-shaped sleeves, the fabric had been cut away into a sleek halter neck complete with the funky 1970s collar. The dress had been tailored to fit me snugly, where once a tent of fabric cascaded down almost as far as my ankles.

I for one am a customising convert. Charity shops here I come …

Junk's customising service ranges from £8 to adjust the hem, rising to £20 to have the whole dress re-shaped. To have a dress tailor made using a customer's fabric, prices range from £35-£40.

Go to www.junkshopuk.com for more information.