Recycling Clothing: What’s Next? - theHumm January 2020

By — Sue Evans

Almonte found its beginning through production of woolen textiles. The first woolen mill, Ramsey Woolen Cloth Manufacturing Company, was incorporated in 1851. Over a period of time mills were established on seven different sites. By the late 19th century Almonte was known as the “little Manchester” of Canada. These mills produced high quality textiles that were shipped to manufacturers that created beautiful woolen articles of clothing that wore well for many years. When it became possible to generate extremely durable synthetic textiles from petroleum and coal products, the market for woolen textiles declined and gradually the woolen mills were closed. The last one, located on the site of Millfall Condominium, was shut down around 1985.

The gradual decline in the woolen industry led, of course, to unemployment and the need for modestly priced clothing. In response, community-minded people with vision established the Almonte Community Coordinators, more commonly known as The Hub, in 1974. Its purpose is to enable people to purchase inexpensive, gently used second-hand clothing and other articles. This activity generates funds to support community projects and assists women to develop new skills. While recent news stories have made us doubtful that companies claiming to recycle materials are actually achieving this, there is no question that today The Hub works hard not only to meet their original goals but also to ensure that whatever comes their way is diverted from landfill sites.

Today we live in a world where, generally speaking, people treat clothing as stylish consumables with a fairly short “best before date” and expect to pay as little as possible for these. Recently, the CBC reported in its “What On Earth” newsletter the following:

Production of crops and fibres used in fashion is responsible for 10 percent of global carbon emissions.

About 17 to 20 percent of global industrial water pollution comes from the dyes used to colour clothing.

North Americans directed 9.5 million tonnes of clothing to the landfill in 2019 — this despite the fact that 95 per cent of those items could be reused or recycled.

While efforts to keep clothing out of the landfill are very important, reduction of our consumption of “disposable” clothing must also happen. One possibility is certainly to shop in second-hand stores. Another is to repurpose or resize clothing languishing in the back of our closets or to use fabric taken from clothing made of good quality material but no longer wearable. This past fall, the Centre For Creative Living (CFCL), a program of St. Paul’s Anglican Church in Almonte, piloted a program to do exactly that under the talented leadership of costume designer Ingrid Hamster. As a follow-up, CFCL will be offering two eight-week programs in succession this winter. Ingrid will teach participants the art of repurposing clothing to create new, usable items for themselves and/or for market. The program includes three levels, each building on the last.

In Level One, participants will artfully design and produce a series of small items (for example a pillow cover, a bag, an apron and a pair of mitts) using fabric cut from unusable pieces of clothing. You will learn how to follow a simple pattern, create button holes, insert zippers, do appliqué etc.

Level Two will focus on resizing and/or redesigning clothing to make these items attractive and wearable. You will learn how to take measurements properly and to resize or reshape clothing pieces of your choice.

In Level Three you will design clothing using a combination of fabrics rescued from second-hand and/or unusable clothing. You will learn to recognize and select fabrics that will work well together, create a generic block pattern, and create a one-of-a-kind spring jacket for yourself.

Participants can begin at any level and progress at their own speed. Not only will this fun-filled program enable you to reduce pollution, your carbon footprint and contribution to landfill sites, it will also save you money and provide an opportunity for you to enjoy a new, very useful creative activity. The program will take place at St. Paul’s Anglican Church Hall in Almonte from January 16 to March 5 and from March 12 to April 30 on Thursdays from 9am to noon. The cost is $180 per 8-week series.

To register, please email Sue Evans at cfcl@stpaulsalmonte.ca by January 10 indicating which level you would be interested in. St. Paul’s provides subsidies for those for whom the cost would be a barrier.

Links for this article at Centre for Creative Living,

Fiddle In the New Year!
- theHumm January 2020

You’re in for a real treat on Sunday, January 5, when the Blue Skies Community Fiddle Orchestra will present their annual Little Christmas Concert. Directed by Cindy McCall, this all-ages group comprises 50+ fiddlers with guitar, percussion, penny whistle, viola, bass, cello and flute accompaniment. They will perform some of their recently perfected delightful repertoire. This enthusiastic bunch rehearses on Saturdays and Wednesdays at the Maberly Hall and hails from the rural areas close by. T......

Recycling Clothing: What’s Next? - theHumm January 2020