Woven Together: Culture, Community and Climate
The Rag Revival project was created after identifying an opportunity to repurpose surplus materials from Groundwork’s Working Wardrobe initiative while addressing the wider issue of textile waste. At its heart the project is about people, bringing local residents together through a shared creative interest, reducing social isolation and creating opportunities to learn new skills.
Through weekly sessions, participants enjoy dedicated time for creativity, connection and shared learning. By bringing people together around a common purpose, the project helped to foster stronger relationships, build confidence and improve wellbeing, while creating more connected communities where people feel valued, supported and empowered to contribute.
Since the project began in 2025:
- 39 people have taken part across Manchester, Stockport, Tameside and Trafford
- 14 participants in Ancoats, Manchester
- 9 participants in Stockport
- 6 participants in Tameside
- 3 regular attendees at Trafford, plus additional participants for one-off sessions
- Participants represented a mix of genders
- Ages ranged from mid-20s to mid-50s
The Rag Revival project has helped foster strong, connected communities, with participants coming together to share personal stories, explore local identity and discuss issues affecting their neighbourhoods.
Across all locations, groups collaboratively created unique tapestry artworks celebrating culture, place and community – providing a shared sense of purpose and achievement. Participants reported improved wellbeing, reduced social isolation and increased confidence, while many also adopted more sustainable habits, including repairing, upcycling and reusing clothing.
Here’s a few quotes from participants:
- “It’s a bit of me time… I wasn’t doing anything for me before this.”
- “We’ve all found each other and we’re all safe with each other.”
- “With my own clothes, I’ve definitely decided to upcycle them, recycle them, repair them, rather than just get rid of them.”
ANCOATS, MANCHESTER
The Ancoats group brought together members of the Hong Kong community with a shared passion for upcycling and textile creativity. Rag Revival built on their existing engagement with Mustard Tree’s art sessions, offering space to deepen skills while embedding climate conversations into creative practice.
Participants also had the opportunity to visit The University of Manchester for a guided session led by a PhD textiles researcher. They explored sustainable fabrics, material innovation, overconsumption and climate responsive design. A hands-on natural dye workshop connected cloth, colour and environmental awareness.
“Thank you for today’s arrangement; it made me realise that creation and skills are timeless.”
Over 16 sessions, participants created a Lunar New Year quilt, celebrating cultural heritage, storytelling and collective making. The project culminated in a live event at The Mustard Tree.
Karen’s Story – Manchester
For Karen, the Rag Revival sessions at Mustard Tree offered far more than craft skills. When the project began, she expanded her techniques with hand stitching, basic embroidery and experimenting with materials.
“It’s not just about repairing clothes, it’s about having the mindset that we can give new life to material.”
Through the sessions, Karen also deepened her thinking about sustainability and fast fashion.
“Some new things are good, but we don’t have to throw away old things just because they are one year old or outdated.”
Stepping outside her home routine and spending dedicated hours making with others helped her build confidence and a sense of belonging.
STOCKPORT CENTRAL
The Stockport group focused on local identity, heritage and belonging. Participants were referred through local partners and represented a wide age range and varied abilities.
Over 16 sessions, participants created a Stockport Symbols quilt, exploring waterways, architecture and visions of the future.
Participants experimented with embroidery, weaving, needle‑felting and lino printing, revisiting forgotten skills and developing new ones.
Karen’s Story – Stockport
Karen, a retired material scientist and former lecturer at Sheffield Hallam University who lives in Stockport, also supported the Stockport group. Her professional expertise enriched the sessions, helping participants understand textiles from both a creative and material perspective.
Reflecting on the collaborative quilt, she described how the group explored the question: “What’s Stockport?” The final design included waterways, architecture and visions of the future.
“The Mersey has always driven the development of Stockport over time” she noted, highlighting the connection between place, industry and sustainability.
TAMESIDE
The Tameside group brought together six participants of different ages and genders, forming a cohesive, supportive space where people shared memories, discussed local identity and explored wider social issues.
Their collaborative tapestry grew from these conversations, using donated fabrics to depict Tameside landmarks and community stories. As the project progressed, participants added the final details, and the finished piece is set to be displayed in our boardroom at our Tameside office for staff, local participants and volunteers to enjoy.
Sally-Jo’s Story
Sally‑Jo joined the Tameside Rag Revival group after seeing it advertised online and deciding to push herself out of her comfort zone to meet new people and try a new skill. What began as a spontaneous decision quickly became a meaningful part of her week.
Sally-Jo gained confidence while feeling like she was part of a joint effort and valued how purposeful the sessions felt. Having something constructive to focus on supported her wellbeing, and she felt proud of what she produced.
Rag Revival also offered the flexibility she needed:
“I felt like I could visit and do a little bit then leave before the end if I was struggling, without that being an issue”
Reflecting on her experience, she said:
“I would definitely recommend Rag Revival. The environment was friendly, the organisers were approachable, and the projects were genuinely enjoyable.”
TRAFFORD
The Trafford group, made up of three regular participants, valued the sessions as calm, protected time to reconnect with creativity. Despite varied ages and genders, the group bonded quickly, supporting one another while experimenting with textile techniques and exploring themes of place and sustainability.
As the programme came to an end, the Trafford participants prepared to showcase their tapestry at the Thrift Fashion Show at Salford University, celebrating their achievements and the power of textile reuse to spark connection.