Join fashion and textile designer and educator Dianne Spottiswood Miller to learn how to mend and embroider a variety of denim using traditional Japanese techniques.

Many cultures have their own unique way of decorating or repairing textiles, Boro Mending and Sashiko Embroidery are two such techniques originating from Japan. Both use a running stitch to breathe new life into clothing/textiles as part of a simple and mindful practice.

Sashiko/Boro repairs are born from the Japanese philosophy of Wabi-Sabi, which embraces authenticity and imperfections, highlights rather than hides scars and celebrates these imperfections as part of an object’s history. It is also closely related to the Japanese concept of Mottainai, which expresses a feeling of deep regret when something is wasted.

You will be shown how to use Sashiko and Boro stitching on a variety of denim - as patches to fix holes in garments and/or to create beautiful traditional embroidery designs on a range of clothing (e.g. from jeans & jackets to shirts and skirts!)

You will have a range of stencils to choose from to outline your Sashiko design on your garment and your tutor will give you design suggestions on how to layer up patches to achieve an authentic Japanese Boro effect.

This is a hand sewing class, so there’s no need to be a whizz on a sewing machine!

You will be able to learn the techniques and leave feeling inspired to continue fixing and rejuvenating your favourite pieces at home.

The environmental cost of producing billions of new pairs of jeans annually is huge. Figures from UN Environment show it takes 3,781 litres of water to make a single pair of jeans, equating to the equivalent of around 33.4 kilograms of carbon emissions.

This workshop aims to inspire you to breathe new life into old or damaged denim to reduce your environmental footprint.

All materials and equipment will be provided, you just need to bring a garment (or two) which you’d like to refresh or repair. Denim garments are particularly suited to these techniques as they were originally developed to decorate/repair indigo-dyed textiles.

Light refreshments will also be available during the workshop.

Your tutor, Dianne Spottiswood Miller is a fashion/textile designer & educator with significant experience in the creative sector, higher education and internationally. She works as a freelance tutor with community groups across Scotland, sharing creative textile mending techniques and skills.

Suitable for adults 18+, or if a child 14+ wishes to attend they must be accompanied by an adult with their own ticket.

This workshop is possible due to support from ECCAN, Greenlight fund.