Southampton's answer to The Great British Sewing Bee

Southampton Sewing Hub is now officially trading as a community interest company and is set to host a mass mend this weekend. 

The hub, in Rose Road, will be one of the many locations across the world set to host a Fashion Revolution Mend in Public Day on Saturday (April 20) between 10.30am and 4.30pm. 

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The free event, supported by Southampton Library’s Business and Intellectual Property Centre. (BIPC), will remember over 1,000 garment workers who tragically died and more than 2,500 who were seriously injured in a factory collapse in Bangladesh in April 2013.

Southampton Sewing Hub founder Suzie Carley, who who has drawn on a lifetime of sewing, passion for fashion and her experience in local government to develop the space, said.: ‘I am so passionate about what’s happening here at the Sewing Hub.

"This event is happening in cities all over the world, it’s amazing!

"Learning to sew, alter and repair clothing helps to slow the number of items finding their way to landfill. It’s an enjoyable, sociable, creative and rewarding activity that reduces the reliance on fast fashion which has a devastating impact on our natural environment and society.

"On Saturday, we hope local people will come and join us to mend an item of clothing with our support – so come for a visit and mend in public!"

New directors Lucy Marum, Jo-Ann Stockwell and Hilde Grønsberg bring their own expertise to the table and, together with Suzie, are on a mission to try and reduce the environmental impact of fashion locally, engage the community and contribute towards the circular economy.

The Sewing Hub is a welcoming, fully accessible community space and listed Janome Sewing School, with a bank of Janome sewing machines. It  offers sewing classes for beginners, refreshers and for the more advanced, as well as a regular sewing circle. It also provides an alterations and bespoke design/make service.

Local designers and makers can use the space to bring their creations to life using Juki industrial machines, a full height cutting table and other equipment, as well as enjoying guest speakers. 

Find out more and register for the event at sewinghub.co.uk/product/mend-in-public-southampton/