What do you do with old clothes or textiles that can’t be donated or given away? Most likely they end up in landfill.

‘Connecting Threads’ is a new uniform and textile upcycling initiative at Coledale Public School. Its aim is to engage the creative minds of students to find ways to keep textile waste out of the bin.

Through the receipt of a Department of Education Sustainable Schools grant, Connecting Threads is a fully funded project that will educate the school community about the challenges of textile recycling and offer inspiration by showing existing creative solutions, such as turning the waste into construction materials and furniture.

Students will then work closely with theatre designer Imogen Ross and artist Samantha Arnull (both local art teachers at Go Create Art, Thirroul) on a creative project of their own and learn design, weaving and sewing skills using over 90kg of waste textiles that were donated by the community.

The creative component of the project is in the initial material preparation stages with 66 old sheets and quilt covers being measured and torn into fabric strips (a very satisfying process) and countless T-shirts cut up into loops and yarn ready for weaving. We are repurposing some old bike wheels, so look out for future updates as we reveal what we will be making with all of our old clothes!

Last term the students were lucky enough to hear from Lindle Ruiz, The Earth Stylist, as she came and shared her knowledge on textile waste, sustainable fashion and pineapple leather!