Workshop
Rachel Dana and Luisa Mantelli are hosting a workshop to infuse meaning into forgotten garments by creating new textiles.
The textile industry is a major contributor to the global waste problem. Discarded clothing still holds potential as a valuable material and can be repurposed by individuals to create something new.
By using fabric that is torn, stained, or that would otherwise be thrown away, such as clothing that is not in good condition to donate or mend, the participants will be guided on how to turn "trash" into yarn. Participants will be creating small tapestry pieces with these yarns, which can be the jumping-off point for more extravagant ideas and projects or simply sewn into little pouches.
Each participant should bring clothing or similar items that they are willing to cut up. Some examples of fabric to bring would be children's clothing which does not fit anymore but is too stained or has large holes in it. Or perhaps old fabric that isn't being used but has meaning, or scrap/sample fabric from other projects, etc.
They will supply a 10” tapestry loom for participants to work on, which they can take home to continue creating. Additional materials and tools will also be available.
Rachel Dana and Luisa Mantelli are two MFA textile students at Parsons School of Design who create their own materials from raw wool, natural dyes, upcycled fabric, and deadstock yarn.
Rachel has spent the last 20 years working with plant material in a wide range of techniques, including botanical illustration, farming, and 10 years as a pastry chef. For the past 5 years she has focused on textiles, foraging for color, spinning, weaving, knitting, and creating large sculptural pieces.
Luisa creates textile pieces through spinning, weaving, knitting, and crocheting, working with themes related to land, space, and nature. She has a background in architecture and design, which is the base for her understanding of the environment that surrounds people.
Tickets cost $20.