Roscommon Women’s Network are currently piloting a Textile Upcycling Training Project. As part of RWN’s Environmental Strategy, we are hoping to reduce the unsold textiles that are generated by our charity shop by upcycling these textile items into different products for sale!
Textile Upcycling Training
So far 10 volunteer participants have mastered new sewing, pattern making and cutting skills as well as learned about the impact that textile waste has on the environment with our excellent trainer Michelle Fallon. Galway and Roscommon Education Training Board (GRETB) and Roscommon County Council through Local Agenda 21 Partnership Fund and Creative Ireland, are funding the Pilot Project. We are thrilled to have also developed a mentoring relationship with the Rediscovery Centre Dublin to trial this new and innovative community project.
Tour of the Rediscovery Centre
The ‘CycleUp’ Brand and Products
Following consultations with a graphic designer and their tutor, the participants and the RWN Voluntary Management Committee developed the ‘CycleUp’ brand and logo to market the upcycled products. An order for up-cycled market bags was placed by The Courtyard Farmers Market in Boyle at the beginning of the project so a market bag became one of two designs that the group would focus on making as well as one-off design aprons primarily made from denim to tackle the large amounts of unsold denim in the RWN Charity Shop. Individually designed ‘CycleUp’ Aprons are also available to purchase from the Boyle Craft Shop and plans are in progress to develop an online shop for collections available under the ‘CycleUp’ brand. With the pilot project successfully ended, and a new group of trainees due to begin in September, the current participants are continuing to meet up as an informal upcycling club to make items for the ‘CycleUp’ brand in support of this RWN project.
Appreciation Evening and Training Certificate Presentation
On Friday 21st of June 2019, Roscommon Women’s Network hosted an Appreciation Evening for the RWN Textile Upcycling Project Participants to mark the end of their Galway and Roscommon Education Training Board. The 10 Trainees were presented with their Training Certificates and were then treated to a “Buy Less Buy Better” workshop by Maria Carton Style Advisor in Benny’s Deli Castlerea. This session highlighted the importance of creating awareness of the impact our shopping habits are having on the Environment and the conversations we need to have on tackling the issues. Carmel Gavin from The Curtain Centre, Roscommon Town and Suzanne Dempsey, Environmental Officer of Roscommon County Council were the judges of an exciting Upcycling Competition for the participants on the course.
The Textile Up-cycling Project is supported by the Creative Ireland Programme, an all-of-Government five-year initiative, from 2017 to 2022, which places creativity at the centre of public policy. Further information from creative.ireland.ie and ireland.ie