Cheetham Hill: Supporting communities to repair and mend

In Our Nature in partnership with Stitched Up, has delivered a series of sewing workshops for the community of Cheetham Hill. Here’s the insights, stories, and impact of the sessions that threaded together to spark some curiosity around fashion and community climate action.  

Community led

In Our Nature puts the needs of Manchester communities at the heart of climate action. This involves listening to local residents, community groups and organisations to gain valuable insights about their needs and how best we can support communities.   

Over the past year and a half, we’ve worked closely with a number of community groups in Cheetham Hill, including Wai Yin Society, a community organisation based at the Welcome Centre, New Testament Church of God, a multicultural Church open to the whole community and Khizra Mosque, a place of worship and a space providing community support.  

A wealth of community activity takes place across these hubs, and an interest that frequently came up in conversation was fashion. Ladies that regularly attend the women’s group at the Welcome Centre were keen to get sewing, specifically on learning how to develop their skills using a sewing machine.

Why mending matters 

Cheetham Hill has a rich history tied to fashion, from textile mills to factories and now home to large wholesales in clothing. It ‘seams’ the fashion topic has gone full circle. 

Research shows that people in the UK purchase an average of 26.7kg of new clothing each year, only wearing about 44% of our wardrobe regularly. In the UK alone, we buy an estimated 1.13 million tonnes of new clothing every year (2) - most of which goes to landfill.* Mending and repairing clothing has the potential to significantly extend the worn life of our clothes.  

Mending is, of course, not a new idea. With many of us becoming more aware of the environmental impact of our shopping and feeling the cost-of-living pinch on our pockets, the ability to repair our clothes is becoming increasingly appealing.  

Supporting community climate action 

To support these community hubs mend, repair and recycle their clothes, we partnered with Stitched Up, a local, not for profit organisation whose work focuses on inspiring action on sustainable fashion by skilling up and engaging different communities.  

In July 2023, we delivered four sewing machine workshops. The aim of the workshops was to teach a range of repair techniques, from creative visible mending to understanding the basic mechanics of a sewing machine, and that participants would leave armed with the knowledge and confidence to keep their clothes lasting for longer and to share these skills with the wider community.  

We learnt that not only did the workshops increase participants knowledge and interest in mending clothing, but it also brought the community together. People from different walks of life got to know each other and learn from one another, leading to community cohesion.

Long-term community impact

Following on from the initial workshops at the Wai Yin Welcome Centre, participants highlighted that they wanted to continue with the sessions. In partnership with the team at the Welcome Centre, in Spring 2024, we delivered a 10-week sewing machine workshops that was supported by funding from the Neighbourhood Investment Fund, money that is available in every ward in Manchester to support groups to carry out events and initiatives that benefit local people and are environmentally sustainable. 

These workshops supported participants to build their confidence about sewing. Participants highlighted that these workshops were safe spaces where they could meet other people, share knowledge and tips, and ultimately feel better.

To understand the level of knowledge around mending and fashion at the beginning of the workshops, we surveyed the participants to gain insights into their current behaviours around buying clothing and their understanding on the wider environmental impact of their clothes.  

“It’s given me the confidence to just give it a go. It was the starting that I always found daunting, but I don’t have that now. I wouldn’t say I’m a professional, but I feel confident to get going” Sharon Thomas, New Testament Church of God.  

“I had a dress made for me, I could get it on, but getting changed out of it was the problem. During these workshops I managed to fit a zip and can now wear my sparkly dress of dreams” Kinisha Morgan Williams 

A frequent singer, this lady had a dazzling red dress made for nights on the stage. She loved it, how could you not? Troubles arose when trying to get out of this sparkly number. It was a two-person job, with those at the side of the stage assisting by physically pulling it over her head. Making outfit changes impossible during her singing set, the solution? 

Sewing in a zip. This wasn’t the easiest material to work on, with sequins, tassels, and everything in-between. However, with a helping hand from Katy at Stitched Up they managed to get a zip in.   

Carbon savings  

Through shared learning we anticipate that the workshops of these projects could divert at least 48 items of clothing from going to landfill. This is based on the 12 participants repairing two items of clothing each and then passing their skills on to one family member, friend or work colleague who also mends two items.  

The UK Carbon Trust found that one cotton t-shirt is responsible for around 15kg of CO2 and a pair of Levi jeans is around 33kg C02. If the 12 of the participants repairs one pair of jeans each, that would be a saving of 400kg C02 and if they mend two t-shirts themselves and pass this skill on that’s 36 t-shirts with a carbon saving of 540kg C02. Equating to 940kg of carbon savings all together.  

We’ve weaved together the threads, sew what happens next? 

The participants of the workshops left with six sewing machines to continue to help the residents learn and progress their skills. Following on from the wonderful feedback from the participants of the workshop, the Wai Yin Welcome Centre are now applying for funding to continue the sewing machine workshops and have them as a regular activity at the centre.

About Stitched Up

Stitched Up is a not-for-profit Community Benefit Society that was started in 2011 by six young women, with the aim of encouraging individuality, pride and sustainability through fashion and style.

They currently run a public programme of sewing, mending and upcycling workshops as well as volunteering opportunities and events in partnership with charities and groups doing brilliant work to support vulnerable people, young people and more.

To find out more about Stitched Up and the work they do, check out their website here.