Decorative sashiko and natural fibres, with Fibershed Finland
This workshop was planned as part of the ‘sustainable lifestyles’ STEA funded project with Cooperative3e.
In May 2024 we hosted our first circular skills workshop, Decorative Clothing Repair and Natural Fibres, in collaboration with Fibershed Finland. This hands-on session was designed to help participants discover the world of natural fibres and learn some simple and effective hand-stitching techniques for sustainable clothing repair.
Having followed the Fibershed movement for quite some time, I was excited to partner with its community. Following conversations with Leena Pesu, (the chairman of the board of Fibershed Finland and the CEO of Linen Stories) we developed a workshop model to share the principles of slow fashion and circular practices.
The workshop day
Our inaugural workshop welcomed a diverse, multilingual group, with participants primarily speaking English while Finnish and Swedish were also supported. Leena kicked off the session by delving into key issues:
The textile industry's wasteful linear model and its environmental impacts
Fibershed Finland’s vision: locally grown, eco-friendly fibres and dyes
The slow fashion movement and its importance in today’s fast-paced world
The benefits of natural fibres over synthetic alternatives
Finland’s native fibres from wool and linen to hemp, nettle, and cattails, highlighting their role in a circular economy
Leena brought an array of raw fibre samples, allowing everyone to feel the textures and better appreciate how these natural materials transform from their raw state into fabric. This tactile experience deepened our understanding of the sustainable practices behind locally produced textiles.
Following this, we engaged in a lively brainstorming session where we listed various fibres and materials, both natural and synthetic. We also explored bio-fabrics like viscose and bamboo. Participants from different parts of the world enriched the discussion by sharing their experiences with plant-based fibres from their homelands, such as lotus fibres from Vietnam.
During the workshop we also played the interactive "Synthetic vs. Natural Fibres" game. Taken from the classic “What’s in the Bag?” sense-of-touch childrens game, participants had to identify materials solely by feel. Our materials bag included ethical and ecological fabrics from Finnish company Knokkon Textiles, such as cultivated nettle, hemp, and certified cotton, as well as hand-spun and naturally dyed khadi fabric from India. To round off the selection, synthetic samples like polyester lace and wadding were thrown into the mix, making the challenge both fun and educational.
Participants then had the opportunity to select natural fabric samples from the game and begin crafting hand-stitched patches to inspire future clothing repairs. Using traditional Japanese sashiko needles and natural threads, we dove into a hands-on activity where I demonstrated some basic sashiko techniques. We incorporated the Japanese ‘seigaiha’ sashiko design or sea wave pattern, as it has similarities to the Vaasa City logo! Whilst some participants followed along with this design or a simple running stitch, others expressed their creativity differently, experimenting with unique designs—one even stitched a mathematical fractal pattern!
In addition to sashiko, we showed a folder of traditional hand-stitching techniques from Finland. This cultural exchange was enhanced by participants who shared personal examples of their own hand-stitched clothing, showcasing images of their work such as a hand-stitched denim jacket and a quilt design made from denim. The workshop evolved into a collaborative and inspiring space, filled with ideas and mutual learning.
As the session wrapped up, each participant left with their own sashiko samples, a set of instructional materials, a copy of the Repair Manifesto, and a Fibershed brochure on the benefits and uses of natural fibres.
Community connections and reflections
The feedback from participants was encouraging:
"How can we further support the use of natural fibres, and Fibershed’s work?"
"This was such a helpful workshop—please send us more information on where we can find sashiko supplies!"
"I've been searching everywhere in Vaasa for a group like this, one that shares an interest in textiles and sustainability."
Leena Pesu from Fibershed Finland also shared her thoughts: “I think the workshop was very successful and as an organisation we haven't done this kind of thing before, I'd be interested in using the format to take to different cities”
Final thoughts
We realised that more time should have been allocated for the workshop, as conversations flowed and we could have spent longer creating our sashiko patches. There was potential to make small repairs using sashiko once the technique had been mastered. Nonetheless, this workshop was a positive first step in bringing the circular skills of clothing repair and natural fibre appreciation to life.