Longer ago than I care to remember, I swung by The FARA Workshop in Angel to have a chat with creative director Anna Crawley. An innovative extension of the charity shop chain, the workshop, which has been open for almost a year, transforms the unwanted and the unsellable second hand clothes donated to FARA and gives them a completely new lease of life.
The workshop space acts as shop come creative studio with all the action taking place within the same four walls; customers browse the clothes at one end whilst the team produce them at the other.
Rather than just repairing or modifying, which involves changing sleeves, collars or updating the outdated cut of donated garments, the sheer amount of fabric being donated allowed Anna, head-designer Grace and the 5-strong production team were able to flex their creative muscles a little further and start their own line for FARA not too long after opening. Taking most things that came through the door, be it tablecloths, curtains or off-cuts, as well as bits and pieces from the really unworkable clothes that came in, and upcycling/reconstructing them into totally original designs. New pieces are steadily added and although trends are considered, the general aim is to produce clothes that are trans-seasonal and long-lasting.
The workshop also encourage customers to take on a more creative role in the consumer process through a commissioning system; if you want something in a slightly different material, cut or size, speak to one of the team or leave your comments in the book on the desk!
For anyone who like me, finds a needle and thready completely daunting, it's a pretty ideal situation. If you do fancy crossing that final creative hurdle, one to one and group sewing classes are available. You are encouraged to bring in your own garments to re-work and the team will teach you the skill, as well as provide a creative insight into the various ways you can update your clothes. Group sessions start at £38, whilst individual sessions start at £60. All profit goes toward the FARA foundation, a registered charity which remains the workshop’s number one priority.
All in all, a pretty faultless and incredibly sustainable system! Most importantly, The FARA Workshop are doing what I love, which is creating closer ties with our clothes. The team are out to inspire and educate the consumer, getting them to think not only about where and how their clothes are made, but how to extend the life of the garment by recognising the creative potential for longevity.
