“When more people come together with different backgrounds and skills, one plus one is greater than three” – Karen’s Story

When Karen first joined the Rag Revival sessions delivered by our team at the Mustard Tree in Ancoats, she was already passionate about textiles.

“I’m very interested in textile projects, and the Mustard Tree centre is a great space.”

Before the sessions began, Karen had already started mending and altering clothes for her family. With donated fabric samples, old clothes brought in by community members, sewing machines and a creative space available at Mustard Tree, she had begun what she calls her own version of “Rag Revival”, transforming old garments into something new. When our team ran the Rag Revival sessions, Karen said it helped to expand their skills further. She learned hand stitching, basic embroidery techniques and experimented with new materials.

“It’s not just about repairing clothes, it’s about having the mindset that we can give new life to material.”

A More Sustainable Way of Thinking

Through Rag Revival, Karen has also deepened her understanding of sustainability and the environmental impact of fast fashion.

“We were talking about how fast fashion and traditional textile production is ruining the environment,” she says. “People always want new clothes.”
Karen reflected on her childhood memories of Lunar New Year, when buying new clothes symbolised a fresh start. Now, her perspective has evolved.

“Some new things are good, but we don’t have to throw away old things just because they are one year old or outdated. Not adding more rubbish to the dumpsters, that is something close to my heart.”
The sessions equipped her with practical skills she’ll use in the future, repairing her own clothes, creating crafts and approaching consumption more consciously.

More Than Sewing: Finding Space and Confidence

For Karen, Rag Revival has brought benefits far beyond textiles.

“It’s about space, space is everything. Mental space and creative space.”

As a woman with family responsibilities, stepping outside her home routine to spend a few dedicated hours creating with others has been transformative. The sessions offered mindfulness, companionship and a sense of belonging.

“You meet people. You feel comfy. You get more involved in your community.”

The collaboration between Groundwork and Mustard Tree also created opportunities to celebrate culture and diversity. When the session leader Leonie suggested creating a snake for the Year of the Snake last year, the group embraced the idea wholeheartedly.

Participants worked together to create a spectacular snake, a highlight of Karen’s time in Manchester.

“It felt wonderful. We made something together and showed it to other people.”

Since then, the group has continued to grow creatively, and prepared horse-themed creations this year for the Year of the Horse. Their performances have brought together people from Ukrainian, Indian, Cuban, Malaysian, Hong Kong, African, Iranian and wider local communities, a true celebration of Manchester’s diversity.

The group has even been invited to perform at local festivals in Sale, where families gathered to watch the snake dances. Children posed for photographs and community members felt proud of what they had created from repurposed materials.

“We felt like we contributed and integrated into society”

Stepping Outside the Bubble

Karen originally studied in the UK, completing both her first and second degrees in London, before later returning with her family. But moving countries, even with good English, was still a major adjustment.
When she first arrived in her neighborhood, she didn’t know what the Mustard Tree centre was. One afternoon, she met a staff member locking up and learned about the charity shop, food club and community activities. She returned earlier another day and discovered the textile club.

“It helped me step out of my bubble. I was worried, this is a strange place, people don’t look like me. I wondered, do I have anywhere outside these four walls?”

Through Mustard Tree and Rag Revival, she found that space, physically and emotionally. She rebuilt confidence, developed new skills and became part of something meaningful.

“We were not settled with just learning basic stitches, we wanted to make something meaningful.”

From skills sharing to community parades, the project continued to evolve, powered by shared skills, creativity and collaboration.

“When more people come together with different backgrounds and skills, one plus one is greater than three.”