Rebecca Harrison and Mending for a More Regenerative Future

What does mending have to do with reimagining education? Check out this conversation I had with Rebecca Harrison of Old Flame Mending Company!

Rebecca is the person you'd turn to when you rip your absolute most favorite pair of jeans that fit you like a glove and you're having an internal dilemma as you hover them above the trash can.

Off recording, Rebecca and I were chatting a lot about her team which she describes like a dream team full of some of the most talented sewists in Pittsburgh, and I was struck by the power of community. You’ll hear us chat about some of the logistics of mending– where to start personally or in a classroom, the importance behind the story of the clothing, how little is beyond repair and almost nothing is beyond repurposing, how mending is for everyone, not just people who have expensive clothing, and so much more. 

I have tremendous respect for Rebecca and what I’ve watched her build as a part of our fibershed since pre-pandemic. It is inspiring to see the growth of Old Flame Mending and also the culture at large, who, and it might just be my circles, but folks are starting to embrace this as a little protest to fast fashion and disposable culture.

Maybe it will inspire you to embroider a little heart on your shirt over a coffee stain, or maybe it will inspire you to teach mending in your learning spaces. Maybe it does none of that, really, but gets us all thinking a little more deeply about the work that’s happening out there in the world to find a way forward– a way that is filled with more healing. A way where we don’t just discard things that– at first glance–might seem to not be of use to us anymore. A way to flex our own creativity, our own voice, our own sense of style even. Maybe you can see mending as a way forward in a world where we’re sick of standardization and we want our own thing. 

There are a lot of implications here for education and just how to be as educators. Stay tuned at the end of the podcast after the interview for some questions and thinking about the application to your learning space!

Oh! And one more thing– you have the power, right now, right as you’re listening this, to make a stand for a less disposable future and it will only take you 45 seconds without having to give any personal information away– vote for rebecca and Old Flame Mending Company to win this small biz grant. The link is in the show notes. Bonus– when you go to the link you see a whole slew of amazing visible mending designs they’ve done. You’ll be floored, just check it out. It takes less than 45 seconds and is a vote that you’re putting out into the universe for a future based on care. Deadline is March 8 so do it now!

Show links:

Vote for Old Flame (and check out images of their visible mends on their website)

Check out We Are Verbs for book clubs and skillshares

I forgot about adding this to the interview, but check out FROM THICK AIR! It's our April creative workshop for educators-- find all the details here.

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