Upcycling Workshop for Kids — Clarisse Canela

Upcycling Workshop for Kids

Ministraded by Clarisse Canela and Türe Zeybek at Hansa Grundschule, school holidays of August 2022.

I developed a workshop with the theme (given by the workshop's coordinator, Karen Scheper) "Hansa Schule Fashion Week", focused on rethinking fashion and how to reuse materials that are already available in the environment, like textiles, trims, materials to make stencils (like plastic for the stencils) etc.

I researched visuals they are much liked by kids at the moment, like K-Pop idols, Billie Illish etc, to gather attention and show examples of what could be done, in a way that captivated the students (ages between 7 and 11 years old).

I made a document and gathered all techniques and tested them in my own art studio (photos down below), prepared all materials (cutting bag patterns, patchwork pieces, sewing examples and bandanas), gathered most of the materials from my own archive, like textile paint, trims, second hand textiles; researched with experienced school teachers how to work the kids attention and how to maintain them engaged.

Together with the kids, we talked briefly about the fashion industry and its problems and the issues with overconsumption. We explained what upcycling and customisation mean and how these techniques can make us rethink all these issues and turn them into creativity, joy and new products that will always remind the kids of what they are capable of and plant a seed of a better world.

As it was holiday time, we played music during the workshop, let them bring their own techniques, exchange freely, choose materials and what they wanted to make at the beginning of each day (the workshop was at a course of a whole school week). The result was a chill and playful time with happy surprises from each side. The students shared at the end what they've learned, and we left with a good feeling of accomplishment.

Below: Students in action and their creations:

Below: Work process and research for the upcycling workshop, made by me in my art studio: