Stitch by Stitch: What Sustainability Means at Creative Assemble

Pin cushions made from shirt cuffs

Sustainability is often defined as meeting the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. It asks us to balance environmental care, social responsibility, and economic wellbeing — three elements that don’t always sit easily together.

As I returned to work, I knew I wanted Creative Assemble to put a greater emphasis on sustainability and upcycling in our sewing classes. But the truth is: sustainability in practice is complex. Running a sewing school means navigating the push and pull of competing needs.

On one hand, I want to create a beautiful space where kids, teenagers and adults can learn to sew. On another, I need to build a business that can support itself. And finally, I want to make sure that what we teach acknowledges the reality of fashion’s waste problem and offers more mindful, sustainable alternatives.

The easy option would be to buy rolls of cheap fabric and cut them into neat projects or hand them over to students to cut. But that’s not sustainable. At the same time, working with pre-used clothes is challenging too — it’s harder to give students consistent materials, and it takes more time to prepare. So how do we move forward and create sewing classes that are sustainable?

Here’s how Creative Assemble is approaching sustainability in our sewing classes step by step:

1. Choosing Better Fabrics

Where new fabric is needed, we try our best to use materials with a recycled element. For example, our tote bag sewing workshops in Dublin use canvas made from recycled plastic bottles and pre-consumer cotton, certified by the Global Recycled Standard (GRS).

2. Minimising Waste

When we do work with new fabric, it’s pre-cut or paired with a cutting guide to help students learn how to place patterns efficiently and reduce waste.

3. Upcycling Workshops

We are introducing more upcycling classes in Dublin for kids and teens, helping them see the value in reworking what already exists rather than always starting fresh. In February of 2026 we have a Kids Denim Repair Workshop and a Teen Jeans Upcycle Workshop, both taking place in Blackrock, South Dublin.

4. Repair and Mending along with Sewing

Our long-term courses will now include a stronger focus on repair. Although we have always taught sewing repair skills to children at our Dublin classes, they haven't always been taught in the context of ‘repair and mending’, and this needs to change. For example, the upcoming Sew Smart: Skills for Life nine-week course for kids in Sandymount, Dublin will teach practical mending skills that can be used for years to come.

5. Mindful Making

“Going slow and getting it right” has always been a value of Creative Assemble. We encourage students to enjoy the process of sewing and focus on quality over quantity. Embroidery, for instance, has been a wonderful way to help younger students slow down and invest care in what they create.

Sustainability, for me, is not about perfection. It’s about making conscious choices, balancing realities, and committing to improvement. At Creative Assemble, that means teaching sewing skills that empower people to make, repair and reimagine — while creating a business that can stand on its own and still care for the planet.

Step by step, stitch by stitch, we’re learning to do both.

Teen Jeans Upcycle Workshop

Kids Sustainable Classes