Thanks to everyone who has been involved and supported us in small and mighty ways throughout the year! You make what we do here possible!

If you'd like to be part of our amazing community in 2022, we'd love to see you!

Each year, Dunedin sends 4 THOUSAND TONNES of textile waste to the Green Island landfill! These textiles make up 5% of the total waste, and 8% of the carbon emission produced by the landfill.

With awareness growing about the need for us to re-think how we produce and manage waste, and reduce our carbon emissions to slow global warming, we have created a project that takes these heavy issues, and makes them... a little lighter!

Repairing things isn’t a new idea. Anyone who has made anything understands the vested interest in not having to make it again without good reason, as it’s far easier and cheaper to repair, adjust, refine, repurpose than it is to recreate from scratch.

The aim of the project is to collect as many blocks as possible that will represent the number of community views on inequality. The Quilt Project enables people to share their experiences, thoughts, feelings, and imaginations collaboratively. It sustains the engagement with textile processes that address the gender disparity issues women and gender diverse people around the world and gender diverse people around the world are facing.

Creativity is looking at what is in front of you and seeing it from a new perspective to imagine what it could be. It’s a process of growth and learning. Often that process is uncomfortable; challenging not only our current knowledge and skills, but occasionally our understanding of ourselves, our backgrounds, and the world around us.

This year we have started a new project to brighten the lives of those who need the help of the Women’s refuge.

We have begun changing the covers on the cushions to add colour and creativity, suitable to the purposes of each room, starting with the Tamariki room.

Clothes moths are more active in warmer temperatures, traditionally spring and summer (when woolens are in storage), but now that houses are warmer, they often start their nibbling much sooner.

It was brilliant seeing the enthusiasm of young people for upcycling and their delight in completing their unique elephants.

For the last 5 years, we have organised and run significant events in April, coinciding with the international Fashion Revolution movement to push for accountability and sustainability in the fashion industry. With our 2020 event being cancelled due to lockdown, we took the upcycling idea to another level, with plans being repurposed and reimagined for 2021.

2020 started with Stitch Kitchen as a team of 4 trustees, desperately seeking new premises, overwhelmed with just over 4,000 kgs of donated materials, and having never heard of Zoom, but bright-eyed and ready for a brand new year and a new decade.