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Back stitch, whip stitch…which to use?! Nadine Demers has the answers, and led a dozen of us in repairing our torn jeans and other clothes in need of mending, on Feb 16 at the Deborah Rawson Memorial Library. Nadine, owner of the business Crescencia, is also a Jericho resident. With a background in environmental science, Nadine said mending clothes lessens the waste stream via less throwaways. She said for every five repairs, four new purchases are avoided. Nadine envisions a circular economy, where items are designed for longevity, unlike the current more linear, disposable economy. Coming from a family of immigrants, as a child she was taught skills such as hemming pants, sewing buttons, and repairing seams. And as the mother of two young children, she’s often mending; Nadine brought examples of her kid’s pants, some of which had been fixed more than once, and looking better than new! Having a sewing machine is not necessary, Nadine said and sewing skills are accessible to all. Plus doing it yourself, you can add some flare and character to this or that patch. She said that doing your own mending and repairs “creates value on care rather than consumption”, less reliance on the system and increases self resiliency. Nadine stressed the value of natural fibers, saying they are much more long lasting. One must be wary of mixed fibers; for example, denim nowadays has elastic which makes it less durable. Once we were set up with sewing our various projects, the room was filled with the busy rustling of handiwork and murmured conversation. Indeed, it felt like stepping back in time! Nadine’s website: www.crescenciaVT.com  |
