The much anticipated, Community Stitching Upcycled Fashion Show took place on Saturday 20th September at Tooting United Reformed Church.

The fashion show started at 12.30 pm and about twenty upcycled outfits were showcased by our amazing models, most of whom were regular members of the Sewing and Sanctuary group, complemented by friends and family.

Our fantastic compère, Jane Clark, who is also a facilitator of the group, talked the audience through the garments being worn, to inspire others to try this at home! Several of our makers had incorporated Shibori stitch resist-dyed indigo pieces and sashiko samples made at Sewing and Sanctuary under the guidance of Jill Rutter, who also appeared as one of our models, showing more of her own work. Many of the garments in the show had been rescued from Oxfam’s recycling bags, or discovered at the Work and Play Scrapstore, beautifully illustrating how we can breathe new life into previously unwanted clothes. Our showstopper skirt incorporated vintage tablecloths and vintage crochet doilies and it was embroidered with meaningful words selected by group members to express how coming to the group makes them feel, some of these were ‘connect’ ‘inspire’ ‘welcome’.

Following the show, attendees could chat and go to each of the 6 activity tables to try out some of these upcycling skills. On offer was making felt or fabric flower brooches with Gloria from Sewing and Sanctuary and Gillian from Crafty Pint. Heather, representing the Tooting Market crochet group, led pom-pom making plus an introduction to crochet and knitting. Doreen and Shirley from Thread and Connect taught weaving skills with cardboard looms, Balham Sewing Bee members showed how to add pockets to garments and Nabila offered mending skills.  Participants were truly inspired by the attractive displays of various natural dyeing techniques by Jill Rutter, Jane Clark and Helen Kertesz. The stall selling haberdashery from the Work and Play Scrapstore was very popular too!

There was a wonderful buzz of activity in the room and all this time the fantastic TTT catering team, led by Abby, were busily making organic vegetable and lentil, vegan soup (ingredients kindly donated by Abel and Cole). The room was skilfully transformed, creating one long, dressed dining table, thanks to the skilful guidance of Rich, and everyone sat down to a delicious lunch of soup served with fresh bread and tasty samosas (kindly supplied by Pooja).

This event celebrated  Wandsworth Borough Council’s Sustainable September and Oxfam’s Secondhand September.