Roscommon County Council has been working with the local Irish Countrywomen’s Association to promote reuse and upcycling in the region.
There are nine ICA groups in County Roscommon who meet monthly and also meet three times a year as a federation.
These groups have extensive sewing and craft skills and can readily apply their skills to upcycling and redesigning of textiles and clothes for fashion and household furnishings. The ICA also has a wide networking base in local communities and is very active in the region.
Each group received a workshop organised by the local authority on redesign and a workshop on upcycling. The aim of this was to inspire ICA members with items made from old clothes and textiles form charity shops as they are an abundant source of affordable textile for craft projects.
A competition was held at the Federation Meeting for the Best Upcycled Home furnishing and best redesigned outfit. It is hoped that publicity from the project may inspire the general public and further increase customer base for charity shops.