As parents with babies and young children we are constantly clearing out the kids wardrobes and drawers. Some of us will save them for the next child or younger siblings, and some of us will sell them through online marketplaces or actual second-hand markets and car-boot sales. But with storage space being a common issue some of us will give them away to charities or drop in the textiles recycling bin. We all try and do our bit but there’s always space to do even better!
This week we are celebrating London Repair Week 2nd – 8th March and creating awareness of what really happens to a lot of our unwanted clothes and encourage people to explore additional solutions for reducing clothing waste.
Unfortunately a lot of our clothing aren’t being made to last. The fabric qualities are lower than they once were and blended with plastics, making it more difficult for factories to recycle into new clothing and other items and end up in landfill. Some will get transported abroad to be sold but even other countries do not like the quality of the material therefore they still end up in landfill creating a global problem. Until the big manufacturers and suppliers improve their ways, we know we cannot save all our clothing but there are additional ways to reduce waste.
Art4Space have a ‘Make & Mend’ textiles space equipped with sewing machines, a vast collection of donated fabrics from across the field including the community and high-end fashion houses. A range of courses and workshops are provided here, teaching valuable skills of using a sewing machine, hand-stitching and turning clothing into something else. For example, when clothes no longer fit you can transform your child’s trousers into shorts, or a dress into a skirt, or turn it into something entirely different such as a purse or a banner. Upcycling and repairing build a culture of care and keeps things circulating rather than discarded. These textiles classes grow from this approach. Visible mending, creative reuse and practical skills that help people value what they already have.
The sessions are guided by one of our 3 textiles tutors with years of experience in the industry. A new hobby could even turn into a new career or side-hustle. Are you on maternity leave and re-thinking about your current job? Or you’re working full-time and thinking of a new career change. Perhaps you’re a stay-at-home parent wanting to do something creative and flexible to make a little extra money. Let London Repair Week jumpstart something magical that could last a life-time and book yourself on a Make & Mend workshop at Art4Space.
Sessions are only £20 with materials and refreshments included. If there is a barrier to cost please get in touch by email: info@art4space.co.uk and a place may be offered at a reduced rate or for free. Art4Space provide a variety of FREE courses and workshops with recycling and repurposing at it’s heart.
Book a Make & Mend workshop today
