Fashion Redesign Forum: #1 Repair

Falmouth’s Fashion & Textiles Institute hosted Fashion Redesign Forum #1 Repair, an event focused on discussing the future of fashion.  

The first in a series of events of this kind, the day-long Fashion Redesign Forum explored how the lives of garments might be extended, and brought participants together to hear talks, have discussions, share skills and explore solutions. Hands-on workshops facilitated by repair specialists provided a forum for guests to have a conversation around the future of clothing repair, sustainable design practices and waste reduction strategies. 

With introductions by Fashion Design Course Leader Claire Barker-Phillips and Senior Lecturer Geertje Dreijerink, the day was part of Falmouth’s Knowledge Exchange programme, and aimed to tackle specific areas including the role of schools in nurturing a culture of garment longevity and teaching core mending skills, and how businesses can help reshape consumer mindsets. 

The day’s keynote speaker Alison Wibmer, from the Waste and Resources Action programme (WRAP), introduced the organisation’s latest reports informed by their Textiles 2030 initiative – the UK’s leading voluntary initiative supporting businesses and organisations within the fashion and textiles industry to transition to more sustainable and circular practices by the end of the decade.  

The key takeaway was that while voluntary agreements are a good starting point, they fail to make businesses take responsibility for their carbon footprint. Currently, all the positive fashion industry initiatives to reduce carbon emissions and water usage are, unfortunately, outweighed by the vast quantity of new garments and textiles still being produced.

Guest speaker Amy Brock-Morgan, who leads clothing and lifestyle brand Finisterre’s Lived & Loved services, explained how businesses can successfully implement a repair service. Amy also talked about the importance of humanising garment construction and the benefit of community repair groups.

Workshops: a button sewing workshop made from local plastic waste developed by Matt Nott and led by Falmouth Senior Technician Michelle Hammond; a wool weaving workshop led by Threadpeg’s Laura ter Kuile using locally spun wool donated by the Natural Fibre Company in Launceston; and a Japanese sashiko stitching session – a centuries-old fabric strengthening technique – led by Falmouth Senior Technician Chikoko Jones.