The Wexford founder of The UpCycle Movement is hoping to make students more aware of the relationship between clothing and waste.
Material World, a thought-provoking textile exhibition exploring our relationship with clothing, waste and creative approaches to circularity, is coming to County Wexford this September and October as part of a tour across Wexford and Waterford.
Created by Enniscorthy-based circular designer, educator and environmental advocate Lynn Haughton of The Upcycle Movement, the exhibition centres around a striking globe sculpture made from discarded clothing and invites visitors to explore the impacts behind the clothes we wear – from the resources used to make them to what else is possible when people no longer want them.
Lynn Haughton founded The Upcycle Movement in 2012 out of a deep frustration with the massive amount of valuable, durable waste she saw heading straight to landfills.
As a passionate surfer and outdoor enthusiast based in County Wexford, she was particularly struck by the environmental toll of old, unrecyclable neoprene wetsuits, which can take hundreds of years to decompose.
What began as a personal mission to rescue discarded textiles quickly grew into an award-winning circular design studio, which has also inspired her to bring education and materials to the classrooms.
Throughout its Wexford tour, Material World will welcome local school groups for facilitated sessions, alongside special community evenings where visitors can experience the exhibition, take part in hands-on activities and conversations, and discover creative, practical ways to rethink, repair and reimagine textiles.
The exhibition is open to everyone to visit during the participating venues’ normal opening hours, giving members of the public the opportunity to explore Material World in their own time.
Visitors are invited to add their own voice to the project by leaving a message to Mother Earth, sharing a thought, a wish, hope or reflection for the future. These messages will help shape a future exhibition, allowing the voices gathered throughout the tour to become part of the continuing story of Material World.
Material World will also be travelling to County Waterford in September, bringing its message of creativity, circularity and positive climate action to communities across the South East.
The exhibition and all associated school, community and public sessions are completely free to attend. To inquire about availability for the school tours or evening sessions email [email protected].
The exhibition supports both Wexford and Waterford City & County Councils commitments under their Climate Action Plans and wider objectives relating to waste prevention, circular economy principles, environmental awareness and sustainable living.
The exhibition will be open to the public in Wexford County Hall from September 5 – 17 and Gorey Library from October 6 – 10.