Breaking Down Social Barriers One Stitch at a Time
Vinnies Re Sew is an initiative focused in Wellington, ‘materialising’ in the Vinnies’ Kilbirnie workshop over three years ago.
The organisation has a sustainable focus whereby clothing and textiles not sold in Vinnies Op Shops sShops are developed into creations to meet the needs of our community. There is also the collaboration from a diverse group of volunteers, coherently “Breaking down social barriers and creating meaningful connections one stitch at a time.”
Caroline O’Reilly has been the Recycle Coordinator and Sewing Tutor since the initiative began. She reiterates, “we like working collaboratively with groups across Wellington to support every community; we all need support.”
Ultimately, this initiative enables those in the community to create for the community. Volunteers teach and share their expertise with participants, supporting those wishing to learn new skills and even encouraging many to re-enter the work force.
After receiving clothing and other materials not sold in Vinnies Op Shops, the team—consisting of one full-time staff and a number of volunteers and participants—sort through the materials, selecting a small percent to be repurposed. As Caroline has discovered over the last three years, it is “time consuming, labour intensive, skilled work to turn fabric into something that is usable again.” The initiative then works to create products that can benefit their own services and support organisations that have reached out to Re Sew for assistance.
Re Sew also serves to connect manufacturers to sewers, and often donates fabrics to other organisations such as schools and theatre groups.
In January 2019, Re Sew launched their production of gowns for the Mary Potter Hospice. The Hospice initially reached out, as there was a lack of gowns on the market for larger people undergoing chemotherapy. The garments—produced from recycled duvet covers and sheets— did not follow the design of traditional gowns with a back opening, but aimed to preserve the dignity of the patients, by using shoulder and arm slits for medical intervention. A number of crafted gowns were delivered to the Hospice in June this year.
Another outstanding project was Suffrage in Stitches, which involved 546 makers in Aotearoa contributing to a 300m textile work which was suspended on the wall of the Wellington Museum for seven months and viewed by over 50,000 visitors. The project enabled a community of volunteers to unite and learn about the history of New Zealand’s Suffragist’s Movement, not only deepening their own connection to our country’s history but also creating meaningful relationships along the way.
With the current COVID-19 pandemic, Re Sew has been working closely with other Vinnies’ initiatives such as the Food Bank. Face masks have been fashioned from donated fabrics to be sent out alongside food parcels, with the goal of keeping the community safe. Recently, the initiative has also been involved in a range of other projects: from supporting the Vinnie’s Pregnancy Assist with cot quilts, blankets and bassinet sheets; creating napkins for the Newtown Community Centre; to producing recyclable rice bags to reduce the use of plastic.
The events of this year have produced a great deal of anxiety in our community, especially in relation to the fluctuating job market. These uncertainties have seen Re Sew aim to develop a community support network, with the initiative focusing more on “wellbeing, mindfulness and helping [others] to cope with the world we’re in at the moment.”
The generous nature of the Re Sew community has been widely exhibited to date, from raising awareness of community inequities and advocating for different groups, to connecting communities and projects. There is immense value in “making something so someone can live a better life [while] using Re Sew’s free resources and space.”
The coordinator also spoke of the humbling effects of working with a diverse group of people. “We work with a broad group; people from diverse marginalised communities, social groups, nationalities and faiths […] We are all one when we work here.” Over time, she has also seen the dispelling of stereotypes and development of empathy for the community; two concepts required now, more than ever.
Caroline O’Reilly’s experience with Re Sew has been one of reward, yet it has also opened her eyes to the realities of our world. “We all have a responsibility to buy better quality, buy less […] Be a conscious consumer.”
Next up for Re Sew are pop ups, auctions and more community events, all with the goal of uniting and supporting Wellingtonians, while sharing this remarkable vision of a sustainable future in the process.
There is such liberation in supporting your community, while learning a new skill and fostering relationships with others. If you would like to join the project, have ideas for upcoming ventures, like to teach, or just generally get involved—the Re Sew community encourages you to get in touch.
Keana Virmani | Guest Writer