This spring, the UWE Bristol MAKERS project proudly partnered with Fairfield Highschool, Sustainable Fashion Week’s Future Citizens Project, and the Old Library Community Hub in Eastville to deliver a series of hands-on sewing workshops that brought together sustainability, creativity, and personal growth.
Over the course of six weeks, a group of nine enthusiastic students aged 11 tto 15 took part in a practical learning journey exploring textile arts through a sustainability lens. Guided by expert facilitators and supported by MAKERS, the workshop provided a safe and inspiring space to experiment, create, and grow in confidence.
MAKING with Purpose
For the MAKERS project, which supports hands-on community learning through craft, repair and design, this collaboration was a perfect match. The students’ projects — from tote bags and pencil cases to scrunchies and hairbands — were more than creative exercises. They were learning tools. Each item represented hours of skill-building: from threading sewing machines and cutting fabric accurately to reading patterns and exploring the potential of reclaimed materials.
By working with salvaged textiles and repurposing what would otherwise be waste, the young participants also learned about the environmental impacts of fast fashion and the role they can play in shaping a more sustainable future — values that sit at the heart of MAKERS’ ethos.
Guided by a Skilled Team
The workshops were co-delivered by a dedicated and passionate team:
- Ruth Squires, Senior Technical Instructor in the fashion sewing rooms at UWE Bristol
- Ayat Said, Director of Science & Computing at Fairfield High School
- Beth Cooper, Old Library Repair Café
- Kat Corbett, Coordinator of the UWE MAKERS Project
Together, they supported the students not just to learn practical techniques, but to explore self-expression, resilience, and creativity.
“It was amazing to see how much the students grew over the six weeks,” said Ayat Said. “Not just in what they could make, but in how they saw themselves. You could really see their confidence building week by week. It was far beyond sewing — more about believing in what they could do.”
Celebrating the Journey
The series culminated in a celebration at the Old Library, where proud parents and carers were invited to view a mini exhibition of the students’ handmade creations. The event offered a moment to reflect on how far the group had come — from nervous beginners to capable makers with a genuine sense of ownership over their work.
Certificates were awarded in recognition of each student’s hard work and progress, marking not just the end of the workshop, but the beginning of a new confidence in their own creative abilities.
MAKERS Looking Forward
For the MAKERS project, this collaboration with Fairfield High School was a testament to the power of community-based, practical learning. It’s not just about making things — it’s about making change, making skills accessible, and making people feel they belong.
We’re grateful to all the students, facilitators and supporters who made this workshop such a success — and we look forward to sewing more seeds of creativity, confidence, and sustainability across Bristol and beyond.