One of my youngest childhood memories is sitting on the kitchen floor at my grandmother's feet, learning to hand sew on shaped cards with yarn and a blunted needle. I have loved it ever since. She taught me the importance of making things last and the love and care that can go into our clothes. I also grew up with the understanding that it is important for me to contribute to making this world a b
etter place, for today and for the future. This foundation has been instrumental in my life and my goals. As I learned more about sweatshop labour, cotton farming and climate change, I became increasingly disillusioned with the garment industry. I have been grappling with the issues around the garment industry since high school and have participated in the struggle for fairer fashion in various ways. In university I studied peacebuilding and international development, diving deeper into the broad human and environmental effects of consumerism. I struggled more and more with my complicity with the garment industry (as my love of clothes has never diminished). On a personal level I have tried various ways of removing myself from the industry - by buying only thrifted or fairly traded clothing; by wearing only hand-me-downs; by not buying anything new for a year. These experiments have been good, and fulfilling. But I felt like I wanted to do more. This is where Reclaim Mending comes in. My love of clothes, creativity and sewing, and my desire to make a difference meets perfectly here. I have been doing mending for friends and family for several years, and I honestly enjoy it. It is satisfying work. Beyond that, it is a way that I can help others disentangle themselves from the fast fashion industry, and spark conversations on how we can contribute to a global shift. let me help you make your beloved clothes last longer to keep you feeling great, reduce our global carbon footprint, and encourage a world of fair fashion.
