Danielle Soucie, director of Fibreshed, hosted a hand-mending workshop on Friday evening at the Nelson Public Library. The group works to build a more sustainable, local textile system in the West Kootenay. The event was part of the library’s Earth Day programming and digital detox series.

“So when you think about Earth Days, and we think about the environment we’re thinking about, okay, how can we create things within our bioregion, the West Kootenays, from materials that grow here (. . .) Trying to look at how we can localize things and not buy into these fast fashion, consumptive models.

Here tonight, we’re sitting and fixing holes in our socks or in our sweaters. But the conversations that happen, and the connections that happen, and sharing of techniques — these skills that are being lost or not shared or highly undervalued.”

Participants brought clothes to mend, sharing techniques and stories about the items they were repairing. Soucie also used the workshop to draw attention to how much textile waste is produced in the region.

Participant Joan Raulston said mending has been passed down through generations in her family. She said the workshop also helped her see how repairing clothes can reduce waste.

“The amount of waste, textile waste in Kootenays per year is the size of a whale. Yes, I mean it really fits reusing, recycling, upcycling, using things again.”

Fibreshed is currently running a membership drive. More information is available on their website for those who would like to get involved.

Earth Day environmentalism fibreshed mending nelson recycle reduce reuse rural BC sustainability women workshop