Time to make do and mend
THE Festival of Thrift is making a comeback in a move which will delight all lovers of recycling, upcycling or any other means of saving a bit of cash.
The imaginative festival, which proved a hit on its 2013 debut and has flourished ever since, is said to be the UK’s only national celebration of sustainable living.
And its fans will welcome the chance to pick up more cost-cutting tips and shared ideas when the event returns to the Tees Valley this September with a weekend of learning, making, fixing, creating and reusing.
The Festival of Thrift was founded by designer Wayne Hemingway and his business partner wife Gerardine, both experts in make-do-and-mend having begun their careers selling second-hand clothes at London’s Camden Market.
The debut of the free festival took place at Lingfield Point in Darlington – a former wool factory given a new lease of life as a home for business – which Wayne described as “one of the best regeneration and re-use projects I have ever seen”.
A knee-jerk reaction to a disposable world and time of excess, its appeal proved enormous. The festival was warmly welcomed by 27,000 visitors – a staggering 17,000 more than expected.
The next year saw its fan base increase still further, to 40,000 then came an increase to 45,000 ahead of the festival’s move to a new home at Kirkleatham in Redcar which last year still attracted 35,000 people.
Now in its fifth year and an award-winner, it returns to Kirkleatham on September 23-24, opening 10am-5pm, with its usual wide mix of art, crafts and businesses assembled from across the region and rest of the UK, all sharing their expertise and experience and reflecting all sorts of points of view.
Visitors can enjoy demonstrations, talks and workshops – teaching them how to save money and help the environment – while wandering around 100-plus stalls. And there’s always plenty top food and entertainment on offer.
Described as an “honest to goodness joyful festival”, its theme this year will be based around nature and growing.
While admission to the festival is free, parking will cost £5.
Organisers are currently looking for sponsors which share the innovative event’s sustainable ethos.
BARBARA HODGSON HAS NEWS ABOUT THIS YEAR’S FESTIVAL OF THRIFT