The GIRO Makerspace Threads Together Creativity, Community and Climate Action

On an island known for its creativity and environmental consciousness, the Gabriola Island Recycling Organization [GIRO] Makerspace is quietly growing into a vibrant hub of hands-on textile learning, skill-sharing and intergenerational connection. 

The GIRO Makerspace mission is to incubate solutions to the global fast fashion crisis, which contributes significantly to pollution and textile waste [ over 10% of carbon emissions and millions of tonnes of textile waste annually].  Rather than throwing away worn or damaged garments, the Makerspace encourages repair and reuse through education and hands-on practice.

Workshops like the recent ‘Visible Mending as Art’ enable participants to repair their personal garments. It’s not just about textiles—it’s about community, empowerment, and learning. This is a grassroots center for textile education, social connection, and eco-action. 

Participants in the coming Autumn education program will pay just $35.00 per person for a 2.5 hr. morning workshop. This will make sessions more accessible, while the minimum number of participants increases to 6 to ensure the program is sustainable.

Milestones in Making

The GIRO Makerspace celebrated its Grand Opening on June 13-14th, offering demonstrations and an impressive display featuring 21 textile artists and makers rescuing textiles from the waste stream. For the 140 plus people in attendance over the two-day event, highlights included displays from researchers on two potential industrial uses for shredded textiles: textile bricks and acoustic panels.  The Makerspace’s textile shredding machine will transform unusable, stained or torn textiles into shredded fibre for a variety of applications.

At the Grand Opening, GIRO announced that the textile project has been awarded major provincial funding, which will allow GIRO to install a dust extraction system, ensuring a safer environment for workers and people handling the shredded material. “It’s an essential step for keeping our space functional and safe” says GIRO Executive Director, Michelle Kresnyak.” This is one way we ensure that even damaged donations don’t end up in the landfill. People are surprised to learn that 50% of the clothing GIRO receives is too worn to resell or reuse”.

What’s On Offer

The GIRO Makerspace offers a variety of textile classes—ranging from basic sewing, quilting, hand weaving, crochet, knitting and more, giving individuals the skills and inspiration to make a difference.

Open on Wednesday and Saturday afternoons (1-3:30pm Fall and Winter hours start September 7th), the GIRO Makerspace hosts the Fibre Café, a drop-in, by-donation gathering where community members can work on personal fibre projects, share tips and techniques, and enjoy casual conversation. You can come to learn, to teach informally, or just to connect with others while keeping your hands busy.

Individuals may also purchase a $50 punch card for 10 sessions, which gives access to an array of equipment and tools—sewing machines, sergers, weaving looms and more, available in the same afternoon time slot as the Fibre Café.  It’s ideal for those lacking the appropriate space or equipment who are looking to work independently on personal projects [and for novices, who might appreciate some guidance when more experienced mentors are on-site].  

All options are open to adults and teens, while children under 13 are welcome if accompanied by an adult—making it a family-friendly space for shared learning and creativity. Whether you’re a seasoned maker or simply curious about mending a favorite sweater, the GIRO Makerspace invites you to drop in, take one of our upcoming workshops or join fellow textile buffs who value craft, sustainability, and mutual support.

Registration for Autumn workshops will start on September 1^st, with the first session taking place on September 13th. For those interested in providing future workshops or classes, please contact the Makerspace Coordinator at makerspace@girodepot.com to submit a proposal, along with your experience in instructing small groups.

For information on workshops, Fibre Cafes or booking time on equipment, please visit www.relovelocal.ca.