A Mendip based handweaver and textile impact advocate has recently delivered a series of workshops to inform people with learning disabilities about fast fashion and the benefits of local, natural fibres.

Jade Ogden, founder of the Handloom Room and member of the South West England Fibreshed obtained a bursary to make Fibreshed accessible to people with learning disabilities. As part of the project, she devised and ran a series of workshops for people with learning disabilities in the local area including at SWALLOW in Westfield, OpenStoryTellers in Frome, Orchard Vale Trust in Wookey, the Reach Centre in Weare and the Hub in Yeovil.

The workshops were interactive and had lots of sensory elements, including sheep and alpaca wool, linen fibre, fragrant dye-plants and even a bunch of dried stinging nettles. In contrast to the natural fibres, they also explored man-made, petroleum based, unnatural fibres such as polyester and acrylic. The sessions addressed issues around fast fashion and the groups had the opportunity to sort through a charity shop ‘rag bag’ and look at the fibres that make up the clothes that are destined for waste – whether in the UK or abroad.

The South West England Fibreshed is a community of textile growers, processors and producers based in the south west who advocate for clothing and textiles to be grown and made within the region, in a way that is actively beneficial to the environment. In the south west we have access to a fantastic variety of wool, dye-plants, flax for linen and a gradually expanding number of mills - as well as many knitters, weavers, spinners and dyers who process such fibres.

The workshops gained lots of positive feedback. “This is something I’ve never thought about before, it is interesting to learn about where our clothes and their fibres come from,” said one participant. Another said “This has blown my mind – I’m going to go home and check all the labels in my wardrobe now.”

The project culminated in an event day at Fernhill Farm, a local regenerative farm and fellow member of the South West England Fibreshed. Participants enjoyed a tour of the farm and were able to see sheep being hand blade sheared. They also took part in some handweaving – the group transformed the clothes from the ‘rag bag’ into new handwoven coasters and panels to take home.

“I have been concerned about fast fashion for many years and Fibreshed has helped me to discover an alternative where clothing can be fully local, biodegradable and good for the planet” said Jade.

“I really wanted to make this learning accessible to more people and The South West England Fibreshed bursary enabled me to do that – now I want to do more!”

Jade also created an Easy Read guide to Fibreshed which will soon be available on the South West England Fibreshed website - https://www.southwestenglandfibreshed.co.uk/

If you are interested in booking a similar workshop at your day service, school or community setting, please visit Jade’s website www.thehandloomroom.co.uk/workshops