For the first time, a Slow Fashion Event will be held at Pontio, Bangor, on April 12th, when people can learn the skills to love, mend, or elevate their existing wardrobe.
The event organised by Menter Môn as part of the ‘Cylchol’ project will be hosted by Debra Drake, a 2022 finalist on The Great British Sewing Bee and a passionate advocate for sustainable fashion. She will be joined by two other former Sewing Bee contestants, Lauren Tedstone (2023) and Suzy Sankey (2024).
Throughout the day, attendees can participate in
- Sewing and crafting workshops
- A Swap Don’t Shopclothing exchange
- Bring clothes that need mending to the repair café
- Buy from stalls selling sustainable, vintage, and second-hand clothes
- Watch a fashion catwalk of clothes created in community workshops
- Learn about slow fashion in a Q&A sessionwith the Sewing Bee contestants
While there will be a small fee for the workshops, all other activities are free, thanks to Cyngor Gwynedd who are funding Menter Môn’s Cylchol project, a circular economy initiative.
Debra Drake shared her excitement about the event, saying, “I am thrilled to be part of this event—the first of its kind in North Wales. Fashion today moves at a relentless pace, but this is an opportunity for all of us to slow down, learn new skills, and make the most of what we already own.
“Whether it’s through mending, upcycling, or making more mindful purchases, we can all play a part in creating a more sustainable future.”
She also highlighted the variety of workshops available on the day, adding “The workshops offered vary from learning how to embroider on clothes to creating yarn out of old t-shirts. A few of the workshops are also suitable for children over 8 years old, which makes it a truly multi-generation event.
Debra has also been holding community workshops as part of the Cylchol / Llai scheme over the past few months, working with young people at Gisda to upcycle sweatshirts and teaching them basic sewing skills. Their creations will be showcased on the catwalk during the event.
She added, “I have enjoyed working with the young people at Gisda so much, and it’ll be amazing to see their upcycled clothes on the catwalk.”
“Events like this don’t happen often in North Wales, so come along for a relaxed, inspiring day of learning and creativity.”
Elen Parry from Cylchol, Menter Môn added, “We’re excited to host a day of fun for the whole family in Bangor as part of the Cylchol project.
“With the support of Llai, we’re running a slow fashion campaign to encourage people to rethink before discarding items that could be repaired or swapped.
“Through the Ffiws maker spaces, we’re also holding workshops across communities in Gwynedd and Ynys Môn to keep this conversation going and inspire more sustainable fashion choices.”
