Southwest Women’s Fiber Arts Collective Helps Community Members Mend Clothes

The Southwest Women’s Fiber Arts Collective (SWFAC), in collaboration with the Future Forge Makerspace, is starting an outreach program to help community members have clothes mended and learn how to mend clothes. This free program will be held from 10 a.m.-noon, Saturday, September 28, at the Future Forge, 307 East College Ave, Silver City.

Did you know that 66% of unwanted clothes and textiles wind up in the landfill? Or that less than 15% are recycled and the rest, 19% are burned? According to theroundup.org, the US generates more than 17 million tons of textile waste per year. That equals about 112 pounds per person!

Mending clothes is one of the methods we can all use to keep good clothing out of our landfill. Inspired by a group in Scotland called Street Stitchers, SWFAC members will be on hand to make simple repairs like replacing a button or a tear in a shirt or pants. In addition, community members who learn how to mend with the SWFAC members, will receive a small sewing kit.

SWFAC is pleased to collaborate with the Future Forge on this program. The Future Forge Makerspace is a place for Making and Learning! Makerspaces are part of what’s called the Maker’s Movement, which emphasizes hands-on discovery in an increasingly automated world. The textiles room has a modular design based in the reconfigurable space of co-working. There are a variety of tables and chairs, sewing machines, computer assisted embroidery, silk-screening.  A large variety of tools, fabrics and resources are available for member use.

Visit SWFAC’s website at www.fiberartscollective.org to learn more about the organization. To learn more about The Future Forge Makerspace, and to become a member, visit thefutureforge.org.