Making Mends’ Manifesto

Circularity

Every worn out and unwanted textile has the potential to become something useful and beautiful once again. By seeing the value in what we already have, and in second hand textiles, we can live our lives less wastefully.

We use materials that would otherwise go to waste, and swap what we no longer want or need with others.

Comfort

Being comfortable in what we wear makes a real difference to how we feel about ourselves and the world, and what we’re capable of.

When we know how to alter and fix our clothes, we can bring more comfort to our lives.

Community

People are at the heart of what we aspire to do. We want to bring together our community to share skills, ideas and excitement. It’s as much about making new friends as transforming old clothes.

Confidence

Together we can build confidence in our abilities to transform old into new. Through communal learning we understand how to use tools and materials to their full potential (a very cool super power to have).

Creativity

Everything we own has been created by someone, somewhere. We want to reclaim the knowledge and craft that lies behind the abundance of textile goods surrounding us, while experiencing the joy of creativity.

By understanding the skills involved, we have a greater appreciation of our things and take better care of them. We also start seeing potential in every scrap of material we spot lying around.