Maria Åkesdotter
Innovator
Återbruket Klädtrasan
Sweden
Environmental
Rural Areas
Rural area close to city
The innovation journey
Återbruket Klädtrasan is a voluntary and non-profit clothes mending circle. The “Reuse Cloth Workshop” takes place on Tuesdays at Tomelilla public library for patching, mending, decorating, altering, tailoring, and making new garments from old ones. The aim of the organization is to contribute to the planet by extending the life of people’s existing clothes or adjusting second-hand garments to fit instead of buying new ones. The leader is Maria Åkesdotter, who is accompanied by a group of skilled textile ladies who provide tips and advice.
Återbruket Klädtrasan was started by Maria Åkesdotter, a retired apparel teacher, in 2019. She was inspired by the book Mending Matters. Maria talked to the Red Cross, that had an unused store area and posted her idea on Facebook, inviting others to join. Two more ladies joined and the local newspaper wrote a story about the initiative. The group grew and more and more participants joined the mending circle.
The innovation impact
The initiative took a long break from its operations during the pandemic, but by autumn 2021, the group started meeting again, first informally, and later once again in the Red Cross’s premises. As the circle’s work continued, the group moved to Tomelilla’s culture house and then to the library.
Apart from the meetings on Tuesdays, which anyone can join, the group’s activities, thus far, include:
- Fashion shows
- Lectures and exhibitions
- Organisation of clothes exchanges and flea markets
- Workshops, for example at Ecotopia Österlen or Syateljé Vitaby
- The “Knit for climate” initiative