Textile Craftivism: Reflections on the Climate Crisis

“Craftivism” uses craft to send a message – to make people stop and reflect on a particular topic. Craftivism can be done anywhere by anyone.

In 2021, people from Scotland and all over Britain and other countries, made fabric panels of patchwork, appliqué, felting, knitting, crochet, embroidery and more. When joined together, these created a 1.5 km long “scarf” which was displayed on Glasgow Green during COP 26.

The scarf was used to convey key environmental messages to persuade leaders and elected representatives (at local, national and global levels) to act in a serious and committed way to reduce carbon emissions, research carbon sequestration and make firm commitments and laws to combat the increasing threat of climate change and help ensure the survival of earth and life as we know it.

The significance of 1.5 km was that, at the International Climate Conference in Paris in 2015, it was agreed that a 1.5°C temperature rise above pre-industrial levels, was the maximum possible to avoid a catastrophic and irreversible global warming crisis caused by human activity.

The people who created these panels feel passionately that our current way of life, with models of excessive consumption and continual economic growth, together with the global and local inequalities, cause significant damage to the planet. They see little genuine national or global commitment or action to change things. They are however, heartened that locally there are some great projects and individuals that help mitigate the effects of the climate crisis and contribute to a more positive future.

These panels are taken on tour by their creators to engage people in discussion about the climate crisis. This form of “craftivism” is a small gesture, raising awareness while encouraging and supporting others to think and act for positive change. We are very pleased to be displaying some of the panels at John Muir’s Birthplace from 14th – 28th October.

To find out more about this mass craftivism project take a look at the Stitches for Survival website.

We are also pleased to be displaying a garment that was part of the ‘Rebellious Threads’ project.

Rebellious Threads was “an intensive 2 year up-cycling project in collaboration with the Dunbar schools, North Light Arts and Sustaining Dunbar. This exciting project will integrate with the whole curriculum and utilise the skills of various local professionals to deliver long lasting impacts on the consumption habits, not only of the pupils but of the whole community.

Rebellious Threads mission is to slow down fast fashion by swapping not shopping, creating, remaking, choosing and reusing, caring and repairing.”