Sustainable Fashion Workshops Available at SERC

The workshops will be open to SERC students, staff, and members of the public. No prior experience in the workshop skill areas is required, beginners are very welcome. For some workshops, participants are asked to bring an item of clothing to decorate, mend or upcycle – details are provided at the event booking links below.

Lisburn SERC students taking part in the workshops have the opportunity to enter their customised/mended item of clothing into a sustainable fashion competition, run by SERC in collaboration with Lisburn and Castlereagh City Council. Prizes include: £100 (1st prize), £50 (2nd prize), and £25 (3rd prize). Thanks to Cookstown Textile Recycler for providing the prizes. More information on the competition to follow.

Lizzie Buick, SERC Deputy Head of Enterprise, Entrepreneurship & Environment, comments “The workshops are a fantastic opportunity for everyone to learn how to customise their wardrobe and get an exciting second life out of their clothes. As well as learning valuable skills from experts in the field, we anticipate the sessions to be a lot of fun! Many thanks to our funder, The Climate Coalition, for making these events happen as part of Great Big Green Week.” 

The schedule for these workshops can be found below:

Monday 26th September

• 10:00am-10.30am -  Talk: Fast Fashion Environmental Impact - Discover the real impact of high-street fashion on the environment. A fascinating talk and perfect introduction to the practical workshops.
• 11:00am to 12:20pm - Sashiko Decorative & Mending Workshop - In this exciting, fully-funded workshop, you will learn to use Japanese techniques to repair or customise an old piece of clothing.
• 2:00pm to 3:20pm - Macramé Hanging Baskets from T-Shirts Workshop - Learn the art of macramé and turn an old t-shirt into an artful hanging plant basket.
• 6:00pm to 7:20pm - Sashiko Decorative & Mending Techniques - Learn hand stitching and embroidery using Japanese techniques, with an emphasis on applying these to repairing or decorating clothes.

Friday 30th September

• 11:00am to 1:00pm - Jeans to Tote Bags Workshop - Learn how to turn an old pair of jeans into a customised tote bag. The workshop leader is award-winning designer & founder of Titanic Denim. 
• 1:00pm to 2:00pm - Jeans & Jackets Customisation Workshop - Learn customisation techniques to turn an old pair of jeans or a denim jacket into a one-of-a-kind garment to show off your personal style.

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