Edmonton Repairathon

In 2007, I took the Master Composter/Recycler course from the City of Edmonton, learning about waste reduction. Years later, another Master Composter/Recycler, Robyn, had come across the Toronto Repairathon's website and proposed a meeting for everyone interested in the concept. I walked out of that meeting as the coordinator of Edmonton Repairathon. I had no idea at the time that it would lead me into a journey of discovery about how polluting and dehumanizing the fashion world is.

While efforts are underway to reduce the environmental footprint of fashion and improve worker conditions and pay fair wages, the blame is primarily put on large "fast fashion" companies. Consumers are complicit when they demand garments at lower prices which results in an unsustainable market. The average Canadian uses over 300 litres of water per day (not something to be proud of) but it gives you a sense of the enormity of 10,000 litres. What can you get for 10,000 litres? One pair of jeans. If they have a wear pattern on them when purchased, it is likely that a worker, without protective equipment, was using acid to make your jeans look cool. Also, dyeing all that cotton leads to polluted rivers and streams.

Okay, so that was the depressing stuff. What can we do, collectively, with that pair of jeans to make them more sustainable? That's where Edmonton Repairathon comes in.

Sewing is a bit of a lost art. We have a fantastic group of volunteers who mend, hem, darn and do whatever else is necessary to keep you wearing those jeans, that dress or your favourite comfy sweater. The last place those items of clothing should go is in the garbage, ending up in a landfill.

What else can you do? Learn to mend - watch a YouTube video, get a book out of the library or ask us. Wear your mended clothing like a badge of honour. Share your skills with others. Go to clothing swaps to find the next gem in your wardrobe or try a thrift store.

I haven't bought new clothing in years (aside from the odd undergarment). Also, I really value the clothing I have in my closet and keep them lasting longer by not washing my jeans after only one wear. I ask myself if it is really dirty before it goes in the laundry basket. If you do want something new, buy local, check out the manufacturer's record and buy quality items that will last. Resist buying a t-shirt just because it's cheap.

I'm very proud to say that Edmonton Repairathon is in its sixth year. Some of the faces of the volunteers have changed but the smiles on their faces don't. So, grab a needle and thread, visit a tailor or come see us at an event. This small step towards sustainability is instantly rewarding.

This post was submitted by Kate Spencer, an Edmonton community member. If you live in Edmonton and have a climate change story to tell, let us know! Your story could be shared here too.

Editor’s Note: For more information on the fashion industry, check out Alyssa Lau’s Change For Climate Talks presentation, The fashion industry and climate change.

What are the environmental impacts of the clothes we wear? New Classics Studios’ Alyssa Lau gives us the startling facts about what it takes to produce a simple tee shirt, and what we can do to limit our impact.