I’m becoming obsessed with textiles and textile crafts. I have always been interested in upcycling, in fact, I have had a business based on upcycled items! I can take otherwise unwanted clothing and extend their life by turning them into other things. I rarely throw away any clothing or linens, everything gets repurposed into something. Did you know that the fashion industry is responsible for 10 % of annual global carbon emissions, more than all international flights and maritime shipping combined. At this pace, the fashion industry’s greenhouse gas emissions will surge more than 50 % by 2030???
With this in mind, I have begun to explore ways to get the youth a little more interested in repurposing their old things into fun new things, either for themselves or for others to enjoy. The Brownies absolutely love it, and have committed to doing only upcycled crafts for this Guiding Year.
This is the first time I have found a new way to manipulate fabric by creating a batik fabric.
Check out this tutorial! It would be a great activity for in-person or virtual camp, as the process will need to work overnight.
The Guider's Guild 