A Manchester shopping centre’s empty unit has been transformed into a bustling hub where people can find inspiration to go beyond fast fashion.
As people wander past the unit in a shopping centre that has seen better days, they can’t help but peer in. They see brightly coloured yarn and fabric scattered throughout the room through the window. There are sewing machines at tables and people milling about, either carrying fabric or working on computers. Curiosity gets the better of some, who pop their heads around the door to ask: ‘What is this place?’
It’s exactly the effect that those at Stitched UpWhen they opened the sustainable clothing hub in Oct 2020, they hoped that it would be a success. Located in Stretford Mall in Greater Manchester, it’s designed to help people discover more planet-friendly clothing habits, and make friends too.
“We are very much subscribed to Orsola de Castro’s view that the most sustainable garment you have is the one already in your wardrobe,” says Stitched Up co-founder Bryony Moore. “Everything that we do is about trying to find ways to help you keep your own clothes in use for longer.”
It’s both a shop, where people can buy affordable secondhand material, and a workshop and events space, where they can learn about sewing, mending and upcycling. The team hosts a monthly clothing swap and a regular repair café. Although the climate crisis is a priority for them, they also consider mental health and social isolation to be part of the same coin. To that end, the team runs projects designed to boost people’s wellbeing, such as the fortnightly Social Fabric group in which people upcycle items from reclaimed textiles to raise money for local good causes.
“One of the reasons we exist is to show that sustainable clothing is accessible and affordable,” says Moore. “Even if people aren’t interested in learning to sew, they could come to a clothes swap, for example.”
Many participants have done so. much out of the project, they’ve gone on to volunteer. Clair Evans is among them.“Everyone is so friendly and welcoming and so passionate about what they do. It makes me feel better knowing I’m doing my bit for the environment by buying secondhand,” she says.
Moore states that he created the company to show that sustainable clothing is affordable and accessible. Image: Photo+Flourish
Stretford Mall was once a bustling shopping centre. Today, only 20% of the mall is occupied. When the landlord agreed for Stitched Up to run what was originally intended as a short-term pop-up, it was because he was looking for something to “liven the place up”. 18 months later, the hub is still there. The shopping centre also has a play café and a housing office. The Stretford Library was announced earlier this year.
“The landlords are being quite forward-thinking, consciously trying to bring in social spaces like ours,” says Moore – places where “we can hang out with one another”. Moore believes that sustainable clothing hubs can be a benefit to any town or city that is scattered with empty shops and hopes to inspire similar projects with the Stitched up model.
The social enterprise earns 60% from sales and 40% from grants from bodies such the Manchester Wellbeing Fund, which are managed by Greater Manchester Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust.
Imagine shopping centres filled with community projects like ours. It could be transformative
There is a proposal to demolish Stretford Mall, and build luxury apartments in its place. However, nothing is set in stone and it could take some time before a final decision is made. Moore states that genuinely affordable housing should be welcomed but that gentrification leaving fewer places for people is not helpful.
“We’re just really happy to be able to add a little something extra to the local offer and bring a bit of life back to an empty shop,” she says. “If shopping centres were filled with community projects like ours tackling things like mental health issues and climate change, it could be transformational.”
Main image: Stitched Up team member Caitlin, Sarah Revington and Bryony at the hub. Credit: Photo+Flourish
This article is the latest in our ‘reinventing the high street’ series. Over the coming weeks Positive News will be shining a light on the people, places and projects that are breathing new life into the UK’s town and city centres as many retail giants abandon them.
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