Care & Repair X Generation of Waste

Held by Glasgow School of Art Future Skills in partnership with Generation of Waste this workshop will provide an introduction to traditional and creative mending skills. By participating you’ll be part of a global creative action resisting the cycle of excess through repair and reuse.  Together, we will explore our personal and collective memories of textile use and wear, learning practical mending skills to increase the longevity of our wardrobes.

It is suitable for anyone interested in re-thinking our approach to our material world and aims to pursue a more circular way of thinking about textiles. We will be working with beautiful materials kindly provided by luxury textile company Alex Begg . All other essential tools will be supplied, and no prior experience of textile hand skills is required.

Participants should bring along a personal item that they would like to work with to mend during the workshop.

Fully funded places are available for Scottish residents.  Please use the code PX8W0U if you are resident in Scotland.  Please note that you will be asked to confirm your Postcode upon registration.

Aims 

• To increase understanding of mending and repair as a creative medium and its relevance in wider activist movements against consumerism and fast fashion.  

• To engage with contemporary and historical mending references. 

• To reconnect with personal materials through stitch. 

• To translate personal thoughts and creative inspiration into stitch.  

• To work collaboratively to share inspiration and creative advice.

Outcomes

• Participants will learn to work with running stitch, duplicate stitch and darning.  

• Participants will engage with damaged personal garments and begin to repair them through hand stitch. 

• Participants will work together to form connections within the group, sharing stories, creative advice and encouragement

This workshop will be led by Erin McQuarrie and Heather Archibald. Examples of Erin’s mending work will be on hand to lend inspiration, alongside some relevant texts and information of how you can connect with the Generation of Waste exhibit.

Please note that this is running in tandem with the GSA Summer Show 2024, which is open to the public. This will showcase student work and local businesses, generating future opportunities for collaboration across the region in learning & teaching, research and knowledge exchange. There will be the opportunity to view the show following the workshop.