Our friends the Manchester sustainable clothing hub Stitched Up are teaming up with slow fashion enthusiasts around the UK for the “Stitch It Don’t Ditch It” event.
On Tuesday 15th June at 12:30pm, Stitched Up and friends will take a seat on Market Street and mend their clothes in public, aiming to inspire shoppers with the “Stitch It Don’t Ditch It” message – that with just a few simple sewing skills we can keep our clothes in use for longer and have a positive environmental impact.
All of the stitchers will be spaced two metres apart from one another, and will be clearly identified by the ‘Stitch It Don’t Ditch It’ sign on the backs of their chairs. For the 90-minute duration of the event, members of the public are welcome to ask questions and ask for sewing and mending tips from the stitchers. Photos from the events across the UK will be shared on social media using the hashtag #StitchItDon’tDitchIt.
Since 2014, Stitched Up have been running a public programme of events in Manchester which provide skills in sewing, mending and upcycling. They also provide resources enabling Mancunians to reuse clothing and textiles, selling secondhand fabrics from their outlet in Stretford Mall and, prior to Covid, running monthly clothes swaps and repair cafes.
Everything they do aims to inspire and enable the people of Greater Manchester to dress in a more creative and sustainable way – swapping, reusing, repurposing and repairing their clothes – and thus keeping them in active use for longer.
“We’re really excited to take part in this national event, and share our love of mending and caring for our clothes with the people of Manchester,” said Caitlin Aitken, Stitched Up Co-Director.
Bryony Moore, another of Stitched Up’s Co-Directors adds: “We hope that people will go away feeling inspired to take a look at their favourite items of clothing and think about ways they can keep wearing them for longer.”