Bring your own 100% cotton jeans (Note: stretch denim can be more challenging to work with), and an optional second pair of jeans.
In this hands-on, beginner–friendly workshop, participants will bring their own pair of jeans to repair using visible mending techniques and creative problem-solving with guidance through the process. Using repurposed denim patches and simple sewing methods, participants will learn how to extend the life of their clothing while creating unique, personalized repairs. Each participant will leave with their visibly mended pair of jeans in progress, along with practical skills to continue repairing and reusing garments at home.
Please note that this workshop will focus on pant leg wear only, including the front and back of the thighs and knees. Crotch mending will not be covered in this session.
This workshop supports waste reduction, diversion, and behavior change by teaching participants practical repair skills to extend the useful life of their jeans. While mending extends the life of garments, using old cloth from broken down jeans diverts textiles from landfills. Through visible mending, participants engage in creative work as they learn practical repair skills and develop more sustainable habits around clothing maintenance and care.
This workshop is recommended for ages 16+.
This workshop is a part of ENVIRON: Material Literacy & Repair Initiative, a public programming series focused on waste reduction, repair, and material reuse. This initiative is developed with support from the City of Edmonton through the Waste Reduction and Reuse Grant.
About your Instructor:
Ada is a textile artist and maker working with visible mending and repair. Her background is in textiles and clothing construction which has given her a strong understanding of how garments are built and how they wear over time. Ada is interested in repair as a creative process, where the marks of use aren’t hidden but highlighted as part of the garment’s story. In her material-based practice she creates custom embroidery and embellishment for garments and accessories, restores worn denim through creative mending for exhibition and sale, and offers one-on-one guidance in garment repair, mending, and textile care.