Madison Reporter

MADISON, WI – From August 9 to November 15, Madison Public Library is hosting a series of free events focused on learning to mend, repair, and care for household items, including clothing and bikes. The Care & Repair program is made possible thanks to Beyond the Page, an endowment that funds free humanities programs at Dane County libraries.

“Our relationship to our things as humans is connected to our relationship to one another and society,” said Ali Trevino-Murphy, Beyond the Page Manager. “Through hands-on activities, workshops and discussions, participants will gain a deeper understanding of how past repair methods have shaped the present and how similar methods can be used to impact the future.”

The Care & Repair series includes more than 30 programs spread across all nine Madison Public Library locations over three months. Participants are invited to learn new skills and techniques, try artful mending practices, and envision innovative ways to reuse old items.

Earth.org reports that each year 92 million tons of clothing waste ends up in landfills. One driver of this waste is the decline in the number of times people wear their clothing by 35% over the last 15 years. Recently, there has been a trend away from fast fashion towards a more sustainable model where people purchase high-quality clothing that can be repaired and reworn for longer periods.

The national slow fashion movement and increased demand for Free Mending, sewing, and other hands-on repair programs at the library inspired this series.

“I think people want to learn how to make their things last longer," said program coordinator and Library Assistant at Central Library Melissa Ernst. "In Madison there is a drive to be more sustainable with the resources we consume. These programs empower people by teaching skills needed for repairs in various areas—not just fashion."

Care & Repair will feature artists, speakers, and organizations from Madison and beyond who will lead programs including:

- Rita Salm

- India Johnson

- TetraPAKMAN

- Miryeong Hong

- Bird Ross

- Christina Ruhaak

- Sylvie Rosenthal

- Wisconsin Bike Fed

- Wheels for Winners

- Dream Bikes

- Judy Frater

- Sam & Chick Westby

- Fibershed Heartland

- The Sewing Machine Project

- Textile Arts Center of Madison

- Project Home

- Urban League

Additionally, a Care & Repair book list was created to accompany the event series so participants can continue their learning around DIY projects including mending, home repairs, traveling by bicycle, and sustainable practices.