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Re-treading old threads is fast becoming a global fashion movement. On Friday, a group of sewing and fashion enthusiasts from all walks and ages of life came together at Bay of Plenty Polytechnic for an ‘upcycling’ workshop.

Upcycling is a popular movement both here and overseas as consumers begin to notice just how much waste there is in the fashion industry.

Donna Dinsdale, a long time enthusiast of upcycling and a fashion tutor at the Polytechnic, decided it was time to hold a free community event to teach people there’s still life in their old favourites, they just need to think outside the square.

“People in our Bay community are very fashion informed,” says Donna. “They have a real thirst for knowledge and creativity; sadly there is a real lack of places that people can go to unleash that.”

“We’re pleased to offer something fresh and exciting – new ways in which people can breathe life into favourite old garments that have probably seen better days.”

Only limited by imagination, the fashion team showed the keen group how to add embellishments, recycle garments into completely different things, and even how to upcycle worn tired garments into fashion forward pieces.

This is the first of a series of free creative events that the Polytechnic team plan to deliver to the local community. Should be quite a year!