A vacant retail unit in Carlow town was transformed into a vibrant hub of sustainability, creativity and community engagement during Carlow County Council's Climate Action Week 2026, as the Fabric of Change Carlow pop-up shop welcomed hundreds of visitors to explore the benefits of repairing, reusing and rethinking fashion.
Delivered through a partnership between Carlow County Council and VOICE Ireland, with support from Zero Waste Europe Municipalities, the week-long initiative took place on Potato Market and highlighted practical actions that individuals and communities can take to reduce textile waste and embrace more sustainable fashion choices.
The pop-up featured a busy programme of events and activities, including second-hand fashion displays from local charity shops, live repair and upcycling demonstrations, creative workshops, and a dedicated clothing swap event co-curated with students from the South East Technological University (SETU). Visitors were also invited to contribute ideas through a sustainability wall and public survey, helping to shape future circular fashion initiatives planned for Carlow over the coming year.
A key element of the project was the delivery of the Made to Last programme, which equipped teachers, youth workers, Youthreach facilitators and community group representatives with practical skills in garment repair, visible mending and creative textile reuse. These newly trained mentors will continue to share their knowledge within their communities, helping to build a lasting culture of repair and reuse across the county.
Throughout the week, Transition Year students from schools across Carlow town participated in hands-on workshops exploring garment transformation, embellishment, mending techniques, jewellery making from repurposed materials, and sustainable styling. The pop-up also featured an exhibition of award-winning work from Tullow Community School's ReLove Fashion competition, demonstrating how creativity can play an important role in addressing environmental challenges.
Beyond raising awareness of sustainable fashion, the project strengthened connections between local charity shops, makers, repair specialists, businesses and community organisations, showcasing the environmental, social and economic opportunities that circular fashion can deliver.
By activating a vacant town-centre premises, creating opportunities for community participation and developing practical skills for future generations, Fabric of Change Carlow has laid strong foundations for the continued growth of a county-wide circular fashion network as the programme progresses.
Dee Sewell, Environmental Awareness Officer and project lead with Carlow County Council, said: "Fabric of Change Carlow has shown what can be achieved when local authorities, community organisations, educators and businesses work together towards a common goal. Working alongside Solene Schirrer from Fabric of Change, VOICE Ireland has been inspiring. The enthusiasm, creativity and willingness from people of all ages who embrace repair, reuse and circular fashion who got involved throughout the week demonstrates that there is a real appetite within our communities to reduce textile waste and make more sustainable choices. Importantly, the skills, partnerships and connections developed through this project will continue to have a positive impact long after the pop-up closed."
Solene Schirrer, project lead from Fabric of Change, VOICE Ireland, said: "The success of Fabric of Change Carlow highlights the vital role local communities play in driving the transition to a circular economy. By bringing together local partners, schools, charities and residents, we created a space where people could learn practical skills, exchange ideas and discover that extending the life of our clothes can be both creative and rewarding. We are delighted to be working with Carlow County Council on this innovative programme and look forward to building on the momentum generated during Climate Action Week 2026."
The initiative contributes to several United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, including Responsible Consumption and Production (SDG 12), Sustainable Cities and Communities (SDG 11), Climate Action (SDG 13), Quality Education (SDG 4) and Partnerships for the Goals (SDG 17), demonstrating how local action can support global sustainability objectives.
Carlow County Council acknowledged the valuable support of local partners who helped bring the project to life. Thanks are extended to Carlow Volunteer Centre for its role in supporting community participation, Carlow County Development Partnership's BeKind initiative for assisting with the transformation of the retail space, and the McLoughlin family for generously providing the Potato Market premises free of charge.
The success of Fabric of Change Carlow demonstrates the growing interest in sustainable fashion across the county and highlights the power of partnership in delivering practical climate action that benefits communities, supports local regeneration and encourages positive environmental change.