Upcycling clothing is an eco-friendly way to refresh your wardrobe and reduce textile waste by transforming old, worn-out, or unused garments into stylish, functional, and one-of-a-kind pieces that can be enjoyed for longer. This process can involve combining garments and materials to make something new, or adding ornamental flair, such as using embroidery, Sashiko, and appliqué to mend holes or signs of wear and tear.

Inspired by the Penrith Regional Gallery's artist-designed garden, guided by industry professionals, participants will learn decorative embroidery, Sashiko and appliqué skills to upcycle clothing with nature-themed motifs. 🌿

What’s Included:

2 hours of guided skills and technique practice led by our specialised tutor

40-minute break for lunch, to explore the artist-designed garden and the current exhibition

2-hour guided session to apply learnings to your clothing item (brought from home) using the supplied materials kits.
Skill Level: Participants should be comfortable with basic hand-sewing techniques, with some experience with embroidery and/or Sashiko.

Materials to Bring:

Garment in need of repair (denim jeans/jacket, cotton shirt, etc.)

Thimble (optional but recommended)

Local and sustainable enterprise Trashy Penrith will generously supply workshop materials for participants to upcycle their garments.

To ensure participants receive close care and guidance from the workshop tutor throughout the event, the number of participants is strictly limited to 12.

Funded by the NSW Environment Protection Authority, supported by Penrith City Council.