Behind the seams
No stranger to upcycling, founder Claire Rondel has always had a passion for creating. From an early age she would use what she could find to make bags and simple garments. This creativity developed when her father bought her a secondhand sewing machine at the age of 15.
She went on to gain a First Class degree in Fashion and Textiles and was shortlisted at Graduate Fashion Week in London.
Instead of seeking employment within the wasteful consumerism of the fashion industry she wanted to create positive change one garment at a time creating collections using recycled fabrics and creating bespoke garments for others.
The spark of an idea
The idea developed from an initial spark in 2007 when company founder Claire Rondel was asked in an interview what she would spend the River Island Gold award prize money on if she were to win. to create a Retail Boutique that is focussed on sustainability to deliver low impact gifts and homeware alongside workshops for the environmentally conscious who want to minimise their impact on the beautiful world for those who come after us. we live in.to help reimagine a sustainable world for those who come after us – patagonia
Having worked in charity retail for 3 years it was time to bring skills and knowledge together
Bringing together sustainable brands and creative workshops
The whole ethos is about using what we have by reworking our home and wardrobe and purchasing only high-quality products that are made from waste materials. I intend to showcase local upcycle makers alongside other products and bring tutors in to teach specialist workshops in different disciplines. I have been working on the concept for this shop for many years and it is something that I am truly passionate about make it a reality.
We believe that everything we do and everyone we work with has unlimited potential. People who make the most of their lives and can do amazing things that propel. Ultimately we just want to make a difference. make a positive impact for our wildlife. ability to inspire progress and development. be true to yourself.
Community
Working with local communities to provide free upskilling courses to those that need it
I am intending to create some fully funded courses so that the skills and learning can be accessed by all, helping to up-skill the community. I have already worked alongside Kernow Carers and intend to bring in more charity involvement such as Wild Parenting and other local projects to give them an outlet for their creativity and aid mental wellbeing.
wild parenting and kernow carers. If you have a community / charity that would like to get involved with our upskilling scheme please email us