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Waikato District Council - Te Kaunihera aa Takiwaa o Waikato

All things sewing repair, reuse and slow fashion.

With over 533 tonnes of fabric waste ending up in our district’s landfill each year, we're on a mission to combat the negative effects of fast fashion this SEWtember.

Partnering with different community groups and local volunteers to fund, subsidise and promote a range of events across the district, we want to reduce fabric waste by helping you love the clothes you already have.

From workshops on repairing and reusing old clothes to bus tours that explore second-hand shops and take advantage of slow fashion, repair cafes and learn to sew events at community houses, you can expect to revamp your wardrobe without contributing to the negative effects of fabric waste. 

With fast fashion resulting in the mass production of cheap clothing, there has been an increase in the number of clothes people are buying and subsequently the amount of waste and carbon emissions produced from the fashion industry has skyrocketed. 

In 2020, Waikato District Council conducted research into waste habits across the district and discovered that the average household threw away nearly half a kilogram of fabric waste in one week. 

Luckily there are many ways to buy great clothes at good prices without indulging in fast fashion, and our mission this SEWtember is to help spread the word on how you can refresh your clothes without contributing to fabric waste.

From Raahui Pookeka Huntly to Whaaingroa Raglan, Ngaaruawaahia, Gordonton, Matangi, Te Kowhai, and even online, take advantage of the unique SEWtember event in your area to learn how to lower your carbon footprint whilst falling in love with your clothes all over again. 

Collector Anonymous App

Download the free app from the App Store or Google Play for an interactive insider’s guide to thrift stores, zero waste initiatives, sharing, community markets and secondhand stores across the Waikato District and Hamilton.

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Upcoming events

  • Do you have something sitting around the house that needs to be fixed? Pop along this Saturday to the Raahui Pookeka repair cafe!

    Organised by Friendship House Huntly Community Charitable Trust, bring your items along for repair advice and practical helps.

    Check out their Facebook event for more information.
  • Turn trash to textile art sewing waterproof bags, using kitchen waste (single use food packaging) and gifting the bags for FREE to the community.

  • Learn to sew on a simple project, a headband from recycled fabric.

    $15 per person – Spots are limited! Book here.

  • Looking to explore fresh op-shops, be a bit lighter on the planet, and keep your wallet happy? This is the event for you!

    Join us for an inspiring sustainable fashion bus tour, brought to you by Waikato District Council.
    We’ll pick you up in Ngaaruaawahia and travel to Cambridge sharing our favourite second hand shops, sustainable fashion tips and pearls of op shopping wisdom along the way. You’ll enjoy a leisurely morning browsing the racks, meeting new locals and hopefully leave with a couple of bargains.

    PICK UP DETAILS:
    Please assemble 8.45am: Waikato District Council Car Park, 15 Galileo Street.
    The bus will return to Ngaaruawaahia at approximately 1.30pm

    HOSTS:
    Nic from Mainstream Green and Lianne from Waikato District Council.

    WHAT TO BRING:
    We’ll make at least one stop so that we can visit some outlying stores, but please note that this tour will involve walking around the town centre, so a comfortable pair of shoes and weather-appropriate clothing is recommended. If you have any particular access needs, please let us know and we will do our very best to accommodate you.
    Your ticket includes a free coffee from a selection of nearby cafes - make sure to remember your reusable cup!

    Get your tickets here

     

  • Learn the art of upcycling and printmaking within fashion with international fashion designer Jeanine Clarkin.

    Bring along your old clothes, blankets or curtains and explore how to give them a new lease on life.

    Cost: $25 per person - spots are limited!

    For enquiries email arts.huntly@gmail.com

     

  • Upcycle and repurpose second-hand clothing, reducing textile waste in landfill.

  • Learn to sew on a simple project, a headband from recycled fabric.

    $10 per person – Email syldevlin@gmail.com if you’d like to have a go.

  • Join us for an evening of sustainable fashion and style inspiration.

    Hosted by professional stylist Caitlin Taylor and renowned sustainability speaker Nicola Turner, get ready to discover real-world tips and practical advice to grow your personal style confidence and curate a simpler, low-impact wardrobe full of clothes you love.

    With a passion for keeping it real, Nic will weave sustainable style insights and tips throughout the evening. In her humourous and engaging style, she will show how simple changes to our fashion approach can reduce our impact, save us time and money, and even bring a newfound ease and balance to our lives.

    With her celebrated upbeat energy, Caitlin is passionate about using style to grow confidence and empower people.
    She will share her '5 steps to style' - a brilliant introduction to style, with a focus on useful tips and tricks for everyday no matter your age, shape, size or budget.

    You'll leave the event with a newfound appreciation of the clothes you already own and armed with easy ways to make smart and sustainable style choices. 
    Whether you're looking to discover your personal style, simplify your wardrobe, or live a bit lighter on the planet, this event is for you.

    Oh and we'll provide some sustainably sourced refreshments and nibbles to add to the vibe. 

    Get your tickets here

     

  • Join Nicola Turner from Mainstream Green for a fun and interactive sustainable wardrobe tour. You'll get a sneak peek into her fashion choices, some good chat about finding your style, and time to have your own personal wardrobe questions answered.

    You'll leave armed with lots of easy and practical ways to simplify your wardrobe and be a bit lighter on the planet. You might just save some time and money too.

    Once you register you'll receive a Zoom link for the live event at 7.30pm on Monday the 16th of September. If you can't join live, it's all good - we'll share a recording after the event.

    We'd love to see you there.

    Get your tickets here

     

  • Join us to learn simple sewing skills including darning, adding a patch, repairing zips and sashiko – the Japanese art of highlighting rips and tears with contrasting thread.

    This event is free.

  • Come get sewcial and join a room full of crafters, tackling that repairs pile, getting creative with some refashioning, or start a new project from scratch. 

    Sarah Sew Love will be hosting you in this 3 hour evening workshop to wind down the week, hands-on fabrics, connecting with others & learning some new sewing skills. 

    Adults Sewing Class (Age 15+)

    BYO machine, but let us know if you don't have one and need to borrow a machine. 

    Supplied: 

    • Fabric scraps for mending, interfacing, embroidery floss, threads, needles, chalk, pins, irons.  
    • Hot tea & treats provided, BYO bevvy of choice!

    Get your tickets here

     

  • How many garments can we repair? It’s a Sew-a-thon!!   Plus join our mini how-to workshops - sewing machine maintenance, darning, basic stitches are more!

    Repairing rather than buying new is a great way to take climate action in your own life – and learn new skills along the way!

    By extending the lifespan of these items, we reduce waste and prevent valuable resources from ending up in landfills. In general, replacement parts will not be provided by the repairers. Any use of materials or parts such batteries, zips etc. will be supplied or paid for by the visitor and brought to event.

    Get your tickets here

  • Come join a room full of repair inspiration and happy crafters tackling that pile of un-wearables. Learn helpful stitches to repair, and more creative ones through visible mending techniques. A bonus part of repairing is also refashioning, there will be loads of inspiration and examples to look over.

    Sarah Sew Love will be hosting you in this 3 hour morning workshop to cruise into your Sunday, soothed by the whirring of sewing machines, slow hand stitching mindfulness, and more of our own clothes returned to the wardrobe to be worn again!

    Adults Sewing Class (Age 15+)

    BYO machine, but let us know if you don't have one and need to borrow a machine. 

    Supplied: 

    • Fabric scraps for mending, interfacing, embroidery floss, threads, needles, chalk, pins, irons.  
    • Hot tea & treats provided, BYO bevvy of choice!

    Get your tickets here

     

  • Keen to get a sewing kit at home for running repairs?  Pop along and make your own sewing kit.

    Free of charge!

  • Join us for the VERY FIRST repair café in Ngaaruawaahia!

    Repairing rather than buying new is a great way to take climate action in your own life – and learn new skills along the way!

    By extending the lifespan of these items, we reduce waste and prevent valuable resources from ending up in landfills. In general, replacement parts will not be provided by the repairers. Any use of materials or parts such batteries, zips etc. will be supplied or paid for by the visitor and brought to event.

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