Sustainable Textiles

The fashion industry is estimated to be responsible for 10% of global carbon emissions – more than international flights and maritime shipping combined!

Our Sustainable Textiles programme consists of events and competitions to help better connect you to the clothes you wear and understand their impact on the planet.

Addressing textile waste generated by the fashion sector is crucial, given the alarming surge in clothing inundating our landfills. The proliferation of fast fashion has flooded markets with inexpensive trendy attire, resulting in overstuffed closets and yearly spring clearouts. While decluttering feels satisfying, opshops can’t accommodate the magnitude of clothes we donate, with a growing proportion being poor quality and ending up in landfill. So it’s essential to consider the fate of these garments and strategize ways to prevent the issue from arising in the initial stages. Join us as we explore these issues and provide solutions on a personal level with our Sustainable Textiles programme.

Re:Stitched Runway Upcycled Fashion Comp 2026

Competition entries are now closed, but you can still be part of the event!

Join us at the Re:Stitched Runway Fashion Show and see what our talented designers have created from second-hand clothing. Tickets are on sale now and always sell out fast.

BUY TICKETS HERE

What is Re:Stitched Runway?

Re:Stitched Runway challenges participants to transform clothing destined for landfill into runway-ready outfits, showcasing creativity, sustainability, and circular fashion. Each designer receives a selection of second-hand garments and a challenge garment to incorporate into their final look. Over one month, they create a fully wearable outfit that is judged on:

Wearability
Construction
Creativity
Sustainability

The Fashion Show

Come along to celebrate sustainable fashion and support this year’s designers as they unveil their creations on the runway.

Date: Saturday 25 July 6pm
Venue: The Cargo Shed

BUY TICKETS HERE

Competition Information Pack

For contestants or anyone curious to learn more about the competition, you can download the information pack below for full details on how Re:Stitched Runway Competition works.

Competition Information Pack

Sustainable Textiles Series

6 Workshops for you to enjoy this June and July

From June through July, our Sustainable Textiles programme is running six workshops covering Korean patchwork art, zero waste tee-making, garment upcycling, community textile art, and a Matariki star garland, all before the big fashion show on 25 July.

Whether you’re a confident sewist or a total beginner, there’s something here for you. Spots are limited and so don’t dilly dally!

Bojagi Patchwork Art with Make & Mend
Sun 14 June – $40pp
SOLD OUT!

Click to Book Bojagi

Zero Waste Oversized Tee with Emroce
Fri 19 June – $20pp
Discover the art of zero-waste fashion and learn how to make your own oversized T-shirt from scratch.
In this hands-on workshop with Emroce designer Emma La Rocca, you’ll explore simple zero-waste pattern-making techniques to design your own oversized tee. This innovative method uses the entire piece of fabric, meaning little to no textile waste. Rather than working from conventional patterns that often leave fabric offcuts behind, this approach respects the creation and use of the fabric in its entirety.

Click to Book Zero Waste

Thrift Flip/With a Twist! with Sew Love
Wed 24 June – $50pp
Come join us for a special evening of creativity and sewing… We’re thrift flipping but with a twist.
What’s the twist? Instead of going out to find something in the op-shop to transform into something new, we are encouraging you to shop the back of your wardrobe instead. YES you have your very own thrift store right under your nose.

Click to Book Thrift Flip

Community Textile Art Workshop 1 with LILIA CASS
Sat 4 July – $10 pp
Join textile artist Lilia Cass for a unique collaborative textile art project exploring the creative potential of reclaimed bridal silk. Using off-cuts collected from the Lilia Cass studio, participants will learn a range of fabric manipulation and textile art techniques while creating an individual artwork that will become part of a larger collaborative installation.
Workshop One – Gathered Forms & Machine Manipulation

Click to Book Textile Art 1

Matariki Star Garland with Make & Mend
Fri 10 July – $30pp
In this 2-hour workshop, we’ll celebrate the spirit of Matariki, the Māori New Year, through craft, by creating a set of nine stars using upcycled fabric scraps.
This is a relaxed, hands-on workshop, perfect for both adults OR children (ages 10 and up), offering a gentle way to connect with the season through making.
All sewing machines and materials provided, as well as morning tea snacks and coffee.

Click to Book Star Garland

Community Textile Art Workshop 2 with LILIA CASS
Sat 18 July
Join textile artist Lilia Cass for a unique collaborative textile art project exploring the creative potential of reclaimed bridal silk. Using off-cuts collected from the Lilia Cass studio, participants will learn a range of fabric manipulation and textile art techniques while creating an individual artwork that will become part of a larger collaborative installation.
Workshop Two – Hand-Stitched Surfaces & Assembly

Click to Book Textile Art 2

Take a look back at last year’s Re:Stitched Runway

In 2025, we saw a record-breaking 64 outfits hit the runway, with an incredible standard of design and innovation. The evening was filled with creativity, connection, and inspiration, showcasing what’s possible when we rethink waste. The challenge garment was a branded high-vis workers shirt, all contestants had to incorporate it into their outfits! Check out the photos below and see how creatively it was used.