4 minute read
How Fabric Weaves Connections and Maintains Memories
The Nest’s mission is to connect women purposefully through craft. We talk about how our volunteers apply their deep knowledge of craft and textiles to reclaim a resource that’s worth less than nothing and add value by repackaging it for sale.
That’s a pretty operational way to explain what we do. The daily reality is much more emotional. Whether it’s interactions from customers or conversations with donors it’s always the fabric that elicits the essence of what we do and why we do it.
A couple of years ago Robyn, one of our Haberdashery Co-ordinators shared a story with the team. Intriguingly the email subject line read: The unimpressive but emotional corduroy.
She said, “I found this vintage corduroy on the shelf the other day. It was the same pattern, just a different colourway to the one I'd made into a skirt when I was 12 and wore to a family event.
Seeing this simple piece of fabric brought back all those memories and highlighted to me again that this is the draw of textiles. It's about family, memories and everyday life.
An hour later a lady bought the fabric and I shared my memories with her. She said that corduroy held a special place in her heart as it reminded her of her Mum, who used to make them a new corduroy outfit every year for the local agricultural show.
We talked about how many people share fond memories of their mother embroidering, knitting or creating something. And they beam with pride. This particular lady was in tears as she remembered her mother who had passed away 18 months prior and the outfits she’d made for her. It was a memorable moment A small example of why this work matters”.
Over the last decade, we’ve had countless interactions like this with customers. But it’s the donor stories that are even more intriguing.
When we opened our larger Brendale store we started receiving more deadstock donations from film and theatre companies, tertiary institutions, independent businesses closing down and local fashion brands like Skanties and Sacha Drake. But we also started receiving a semi-regular delivery all the way from Parkes, NSW The donor, Marcelle Armstrong, runs a quilt shop and found out about us on social media.
Amazed by her generosity, we asked her why she took the trouble to send donations from such a distance.
“I can see that my donations are appreciated. I love that you guys are teaching future generations the joy of making something with their own hands”.
We always experience an uptick in donations in January because the new year brings new resolutions to ‘clean up’. This year we were stunned when a quiet young man brought us not one but four ute-loads worth of donations, travelling miles from the other side of Brisbane. It was an extensive collection that was supremely organised with fabrics, patterns, buttons and even finished quilts. The work of a lifetime.
After a couple of unanswered messages, the young man finally passed us onto his Mum, who called back to fill us in.
“Mum worked as a secretary but she just loves anything to do with making. She has moved into care but her house was like something out of Bridgerton. Antiques, folk art, quilts, prints and paintings hung everywhere. At heart she was a collector and kept everything catalogued and stored neatly. I haven’t found it yet, but she even has a registry where she notes where everything is kept”.
Again we were curious about the motivation behind packing up such a large collection and transporting it such a great distance. Much of it could have gone to any number of Op-shops along the way. The donor said simply, “We wanted to give the collection to someone who would respect it”.
The Nest Community’s vision is to build a resilient community where people and resources are equally valued. These stories demonstrate this dream in action.
