10 Sep Repair Reuse and Create: Community Upcycling at FC Designer Collective

On Tuesday 8th September, FC Designer Collective in Islington welcomed local residents for another free Repair & Upcycle Drop-In, offering participants the opportunity to extend the life of their clothes, learn practical making skills and explore creative approaches to repairing and transforming existing garments.

The session, held at the FC Designer Collective shop, 113-115, Fonthill Road, is part of a regular programme taking place every two weeks, delivered alongside FC Designer Workspace. Thanks to support from Islington Council, the sessions are free to attend, helping make access to sewing, repair and upcycling facilities more accessible to the local community. Eight people attended the Secondhand September session, bringing a varied selection of clothing to work on, including tops, dresses, a jacket, a bag, trousers and cut-off jeans.

The drop-in format gives participants the flexibility to bring their own projects and work at their own pace, with support available from the team. This creates an informal environment where people can address practical clothing repairs while also experimenting with creative ways to adapt and personalise garments.

The smaller group size at this session also meant that participants were able to make comfortable use of the available facilities without additional machines being requested. The team noted that this can become more challenging when attendance reaches double figures, making group size an important consideration when planning future sessions.

Feedback from attendees was consistently positive, ranging from good to excellent, with every participant saying they would recommend the event to others.

Participants also provided useful suggestions for developing the sessions. One recurring practical request was for a wider selection of haberdashery materials, particularly zips, elastics and hardware, which could give participants more options when repairing or redesigning garments. The value of individual support was also highlighted. One participant specifically praised Moe, describing her as an “awesome helper” who helped them feel at ease and enabled them to feel creative. They added that she “cared” about their project and experience. Another participant simply summed up their experience as: “It was all great.”

The sessions provide a practical setting for people to explore alternatives to discarding clothes when they are damaged, no longer fit or need updating. By supporting repair and creative reuse, the workshops encourage participants to think differently about the lifespan and potential of garments they already own.

Just as importantly, the sessions provide an opportunity for people to develop confidence with making and repair. The feedback suggests that the combination of accessible facilities, practical support and a welcoming environment is helping participants feel comfortable experimenting with their own ideas.

The next Repair & Upcycle Drop-In takes place on Tuesday 22 September at FC Designer Collective on Fonthill Road, London N1.

The sessions are free, thanks to Islington Council, but places must be registered in advance.

Book to join the next Repair & Upcycle session and bring along a garment to repair, adapt or transform.