Let’s Create and Reuse gives young people and members of the public the opportunity to turn second-hand materials into new pieces, such as wearable art or textile self-portraits, all whilst learning about environmental sustainability and circular fashion.
We’re able to support this amazing Arts Council England (ACE) funded project for a second year by providing unsellable clothes and textiles for participants to use. These include denim and 100% cotton garments, along with a variety of trims and other haberdashery items that can be transformed into stunning new creations.
We’re proud to see materials that would otherwise be recycled as rag given a new lease of life through this creative and sustainable initiative. It not only reduces waste but also highlights the value, beauty, and potential of pre-loved items.
The fast fashion industry is a significant contributor to environmental degradation, with 85% of textiles ending up in landfill each year. The denim industry, in particular, is notorious for its environmental impact, requiring large amounts of water, chemicals, and energy, leading to water pollution and greenhouse gas emissions.
By raising awareness about the negative impact of fast fashion, the Let's Create and Reuse initiative aims to inspire the next generation of fashion and art students to make more sustainable choices in their textile design practices. The collection features denim jeans and 100% cotton shirts turned into repurposed aprons, embellished bags, textile portraits, and wall hangings, celebrating the endless possibilities of turning old into new.
To date, the Let’s Create and Reuse initiative has already made a tangible environmental impact, by up-cycling and using over 413kg of Myton’s clothing and saving it from landfill.
Earlier this year, Evergreen School, a special educational needs school based in Warwick, completed their programme with Let’s Create and Reuse. Students used materials donated by Myton to design and make their own textile self-portraits, showcasing individuality and artistic expression.
From September, a new cohort will begin, involving three secondary schools, Kenilworth School and Sixth Form, Christ The Church CofE Academy in Solihull, and the brand new Oakley School in Bishops Tachbrook.
The project will also extend to the wider community through two participating libraries in Coventry, Tile Hill library and Allesley library, offering Saturday morning drop-in workshops for local families to explore upcycling and sustainable art.
Each group will take part in a series of creative workshops exploring fashion, sustainability, and design, resulting in unique pieces made entirely from repurposed materials.
At the end of the programme, their up-cycled creations will be celebrated at a final showcase at Coventry University. The artworks will also go on display in the windows of the nearest Myton charity shops as part of their ‘Reuse, Recycle, Rewear… be a Sustainable Shopper’ campaign, so the local community can see the amazing talent and thought behind each piece, while raising awareness of sustainability in action.
Libby Esler, Artistic Director at ArtLabTry and part of Let’s Create and Reuse, said:
It’s been incredible to see students, from both primary and secondary schools, light up as they realise the environmental power of creativity! Through hands-on workshops – and thanks to The Myton Hospices’ amazing clothing donations – we’ve turned conversations about fast fashion into real action. These young people aren’t just learning about sustainability, they’re leading it, one up-cycled stitch at a time.
Anna Clarke, Innovative Business Lead and member of Broadweavers and Clothiers Guild, and part of Let’s Create and Reuse, said:
This programme proves that education can be exciting and impactful. With support from Myton, we’ve helped students connect the dots between climate change and their own wardrobes – all while building practical life skills and critical thinking. It’s about inspiring a new generation to see that sustainable choices start right where they are.
Clare Baffin, Retail Development Manager at The Myton Hospices, said:
This project perfectly reflects our commitment to sustainability and we’re so proud to see unsellable items being used in such a creative and impactful way – not only reducing waste, but also inspiring young people and the wider community to reimagine what’s possible with pre-loved materials.
We’re incredibly proud to be part of this exciting collaboration, which combines sustainability, creativity, and inclusivity.
We’re so grateful to everyone who donates their items to our shops, ideally we would be able to sell them all to raise vital funds but unfortunately that isn’t always the case.
We’re delighted to be able to find a purpose for some of those items whilst helping to raise awareness of sustainable fashion and supporting creative projects like this.
Find out more about Let's Create and Reuse HERE!
Would you like to donate your good quality pre-loved items or find your nearest Myton shop?
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