08 Oct Repair & Upcycle Drop-In Session For the Local Community

Tuesday 6th October – FC Designer Collective, Fonthill Road – supported by Islington Council

FC Designer Collective’s latest Repair & Upcycle Drop-In Workshop welcomed 16 attendees to a busy and productive session at the FC Designer Collective shop on Fonthill Road.

The free, informal workshop takes place every two weeks and provides a welcoming space for local people to bring along clothing and home textiles to repair, alter or upcycle. Participants can work alongside supportive helpers, share skills and learn practical techniques that can help extend the life of their textiles.

The October session saw a diverse range of items brought along for repair and alteration, including trousers, jackets, jeans, jumpers, hats and net curtains. One participant also came with a backpack and wanted to add a disability badge, demonstrating the range of practical and personal projects that can be supported through the sessions.

The strong attendance reflects the continued interest in accessible, practical opportunities to repair and reuse textiles within the local community. Rather than replacing damaged or unwanted items, participants were able to explore ways of adapting and extending their use.

Participant Feedback

Feedback from the session was particularly positive, with attendees highlighting the supportive atmosphere and expressing a desire for more opportunities to take part.

“Excellent session, would be good to have more sewing machines to reduce wait times.”

“The helpers are great, supportive, non-judgemental.”

“Great if you could do more of them.”

“More tables to work on.”

The feedback also provides useful evidence about demand for the sessions. Suggestions for additional sewing machines and working tables indicate that participants would like increased capacity, while requests for more sessions suggest continued interest in regular access to the workshop.

The session demonstrates the value of providing a free, accessible space where people can develop practical repair skills and receive support with their own clothing and household textiles.

With 16 attendees bringing a varied selection of items, the workshop supported practical textile reuse while creating an environment described as friendly and supportive.

The next FC Designer Collective Repair & Upcycle Drop-In Session will take place Tuesday 20th October – tap here to register your free place.