Mending is an Act of Rebellion
May is for Mending ya'll!
Welcome to Better Together’s bi-weekly newsletter, where we believe that the more we work together, the greater impact. Written by Rachel Ceruti, Director of Community @ FABSCRAP. This quarter’s theme is - Sewing Circles & System Change!
TLDR: We have 3 mending events and a BIG Mendables sale in May.
I may be biased but May is the best month! You’ve got more greenery, blooming flowers, Memorial Day to kick off summer, & my birthday (hence the bias - you’re a real one if you remember that we had a mending club on the Subway for my bday last year. Should we do that again?!).
I’m about to make your May that much better too…
Whether you’ve never threaded a needle or you’ve been patching holes for decades, May is the month we’re mending! Say no to the system that pushes us to buy new—this is about using what we already have. We’re joining the long line of folks before us who’ve organized through collective action in their mending circles.
I invite you to mend with us this May. Instead of doom scrolling, pick up a new repair skill. Find hope by connecting with others who live in that mending mindset. Basically—let’s expand our idea of what’s possible when we come together and strengthen our seams & community.
Y’all know I could go on forever about mending as a tool for collective action, but I already did…
For now, I’m just really excited to share what we’ve got planned for Mending May…
🏷️Mendables Sale
📍FABSCRAP Warehouse
The entire month of May!
30% off ALL mendables
In store & Online
1. 🧵Visible Mending Workshop: DARNING May 5th!
📍FABSCRAP Warehouse
Beginner friendly
Would recommend BYO mendable
Taught by the fantastic Kate Sekules too!
Darning is a traditional sewing technique used to repair holes or worn areas in fabric, by weaving a patch over the damaged area. It’s like sewing a tiny patch using just thread, almost like reweaving the fabric. 👇
2. 🪡Mending Club: Craft Night May 13th!
📍Seven Wonders Collective, Williamsburg, BK
BYO hand craft such as
Small holes, Stains, Missing button(s), Rips, Worn areas, All fibers & fabrics, Brand new, used, or vintage, Loose thread and/or seams, and more!
Some materials and supplies provided by FABSCRAP
No formal instruction, but community menders available to help💬Mend & Mobilize: A Conversation with Kate Sekules
3. 💬A Conversation with Kate Sekules: Mend & Mobilize May 21st!
📍Books Are Magic, Smith St., BK
Fireside chat with yours truly & Kate @ 6:30, then Q&A from ya’ll @7.
Stick around afterwards to mingle, purchase her book (& get it signed?!), and show off their favorite mends that you are wearing our brought!
Uniting, educating, and engageingNYC’s growing mending community!
🔗Textile Resources
The business of second-hand clothing is booming - can it be profitable, too?
From our fav BK farm to table cafe: Ramps are almost here and they won't be around for long! Grab a Harvest Box.
Catch FABSCRAP @ Innovation Forum in June - use discount code “FABSCRAP10”!
This fashion, sustainability, & art installation looks cool, happening this weekend only.
Watch: As a global trade war erupts and the cost of goods rises, the ability to be able to repair our stuff takes on new meaning.
Fellow Recycling Nerds - new study on the potential impact of chemical recycling on global plastic pollution.
More recycling info in “What We’re Consuming” below. Personally, I can’t learn enough about textile recycling. Do you know the difference between mechanical & chemical? Let me know if you want me to do a deep dive into textile recycling!
To share with your friends (& a nice reminder for yourself): How to Stop Impulse Buying.
WE ACT TCTAC Website and Learning Center is a free resource with guides across five course topics designed to help community-based organizations build capacity and access federal funding.
A FAB instructor was in the New York times!!!
NYC Entrepreneurs, PACE SBDC’s got you!
FABSCRAP has moved to a better platform for volunteer and event sign ups.
You need to create an account first, then it’s easier than ever to sign up, cancel, manage, and track all of your hours with us : )
📰 What We’re Consuming
“AFFORDABLE CLOTHES”
I’ve never been more disappointed by a celebrity crush. Every morning as I walk to the train, I giggle at the econ jokes and blush at the respectful flirtation from my celebrity crush, Kai Ryssdal, as I listen to NPR’s Marketplace podcast. Whether you know who this man is or not, doesn’t matter (you should, it’s a GREAT program). What does matter is that his radio program perpetuated consumer thinking that “affordable” clothes are okay and should be the norm. If you’re reading this, you probably know that clothes are “affordable” because someone, most often the garment working, isn’t being paid properly. Listen in and let me know what you’d change about this segment. Personally, I’d start with the fact that the fashion industry is broken and disproportionately disadvantaging the women who are literally holding in on their backs (while not getting paid nearly enough).
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“TEXTILE RECYCLING”
Why don’t more clothes get recycled? Research is ongoing to make sorting textiles more efficient and accurate. This quick and insightful article dives deeper on research to improve and develop both chemical and mechanical recycling. This is a great place to start if you want to learn more about textile recycling.
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'“CONSUMED”
You know it - our Book Club selection, Consumed by Aja Barber is a MUST READ! Not only is this book so well written but it captures the nuances, elephant(s)-in-the-room, and actionable steps to challenge the fashion industry to do better. It’s sassy. It’s serious. It’ll open your eyes even if you’ve been in sustainable fashion (or something similar) for years. I’ve read this book twice and am SO excited to read it again. Cannot reccomend enough. Save the date - we’re talking about it June 18th!
Grab your copy @ 15% off from Books Are Magic
*Discount automatically applies instore & online!
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Thanks for reading!
Please like, comment, & share - it really helps AND means a lot : )
An old rhyme for this activity...1900's
A new wardrobe without spending
When, at last, I do my mending!!!
Anonymous