Marisol Cordoba (left) is sharing her sewing secrets at Hammersmith's monthly mending circle at Livat shopping mall
Loose thread or busted zipper ruining your favourite outfit? Bring in your clothes for a free repair at Hammersmith's new mending circle.
Run by White City local Marisol Córdoba, residents can gain new skills and get support with light repairs and alterations to fix pre-loved items.
"Dresses, backpacks, children's clothes – we do it all," said Marisol. "Recently, someone asked me to turn their trousers into a skirt. I like a challenge!"
The monthly sessions are held at Livat shopping mall in Hammersmith, who fund the sessions and provide all materials free of charge.
The next event taking place on Saturday 14 October, 1pm to 4pm. Drop by on the day, or sign up in advance via the Livat website.
Learn to DIY
Marisol went to fashion school in Colombia 30 years ago, where she learned to create her own clothes and how to run a business.
"I saw how fast fashion was damaging the planet," said Marisol. "Getting your clothes fixed is often more expensive than buying a new dress for cheap."
By offering free repairs and equipping more people with the skills to DIY, she's hoping to make clothes mending accessible to more people.
"I want to have a positive impact on the world."
Marisol is always looking for skilled sewers to help out on the day and share their skills with others.
Contact Marisol, aka La Modista, on Instagram to get involved.
Second Hand September
Reusing instead of buying new saves money and helps the environment by reducing waste. Why not start by saying 'yes to less' by buying only second-hand this Second Hand September?
Here are three ways to help cut carbon emissions from the things we buy and use – including electricals, food and textiles.
1. Buy pre-loved at local charity shops
Make second hand your first choice by shopping in local charity shops including Oxfam, British Heart Foundation and Cancer Research UK.
Find or suggest charity shops in H&F on our climate community map webpage.
2. Borrow from the Library of Things
Visit the Hammersmith's Library of Things at Livat shopping mall to borrow useful tools and household items from as little as £1 a day.
Or get involved in their upcycling competition That's a Rubbish Idea.
3. Share with your neighbours
Help out your neighbours by letting them borrow everyday items that would otherwise go unused. Use online platforms such as Streetbank, ShareBee or OLIO to rent out to or borrow from the community.
You can also donate unused items to sites like FreeCycle or TRAID.
For more tips on how to save money and reduce your impact on the environment, visit the H&F reduce and reuse webpage.
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