Introducing SFW Hub: Huddersfield

Introducing our Hub Iin Huddersfield, led by Thread Repulic!

Thread Republic CIC is a Mend Assembly Global affiliate in Kirklees, West Yorkshire. It was founded in 2022 by 4 local freelance textile practitioners with a shared vision to view the local community as active citizens, not passive consumers, with whom they can learn, collaborate, explore and implement solutions to reduce and reuse local streams of textile waste whilst sharing skills, having fun and boosting creativity.

In addition to sustainability and creativity, wellbeing is the third pillar for the social enterprise. All community activities aim to help combat feelings of isolation, negative self-talk and low self-esteem by building confidence in a fun, non-judgemental environment where the focus is on the enjoyment of the creative process. By providing volunteering opportunities, teaching new skills, and having a physical space in town to celebrate the textiles community, we also seek to build local pride and inspire everyone to step into their power as an active citizen to make a difference.

Their Textile Hub on the high street in Huddersfield provides local solutions to textile waste problems, using circular economy principles to transform waste into a treasure trove of textile finds for the local community across four themed spaces:  

SHOP – A unique scrap store experience at the Textile Reuse Hub: Selling donated pre & post consumer fabric and haberdashery from the local textile industry, small creative business, crafters and corporate partners.
LEARN – A programme of textile skills workshops with guest tutors in the in-house studio to upskill citizens with a variety of textile applications.
MAKE -  Sewing machine hire and informal collaborative making sessions at events including stitch socials and clothes swaps.

RELAX – Comfortable seating and a chance to browse the community library of donated fashion and textile books, patterns and magazines for inspiration and tips.