Mend in Public started as an idea to disrupt fast fashion through the act of mending in public spaces, like parks, malls, libraries & coffee shops about three years ago. An act that in the past 40 years give or take a few years has slowly fallen out of fashion, and perhaps also the perceived necessity of it as fast fashion has become ever more accessible here in the Global North. The act of mending in public is meant to create awareness, curiousity, and conversation around the idea and act of making loved clothes last, and raise questions around the quality of clothing in our fast fashion focused modern world. It also spreads the joy of mending, and created community amongst its participants. We, at riyoko love melding those two foundations together - food for thought, and building community in joyful ways. For the past three years we have held a Mend in Public in collaboration with Fashion Revolution, and in the past two years, Fashion Revolution has established April 26th as Mend-In- Public Day - a day where citizens all around the globe collectively mend in public in their respective cities and towns to raise the questions, build community, and make their loved clothes last a little longer. What I love the best about this day and these events are the conversations that are had between participants on how to best mend their pieces, and those conversations with inquisitive passerbys.
This year, we have organized the event here in Calgary again! On April 26th, in collaboration with Good Thrift YYC, Fashion Revolution, and the support of The Calgary Public Library in lending us the space; We will gather at the Calgary Central Library, and mend on the steps of the Welcome Gallery. We met there last year, and it was a blast! We hope you will join us! Here is a link to the event on Calgary Public Library's site, and here are the details also below:
When: Saturday April 26th, 11 am to 2 pm
Where: Calgary Central Library, Welcome Gallery Steps
Why: Read above, and bring your friends!
How: Bring your mending projects and supplies and come sit on the steps to mend with us!
Who: You! And all your Friends!
Sidenote: We also have multiple posters, so if you see one of them - it's all the same event! Come join us!
