What if repair and reuse were acts of creativity and connection rather than last resorts? This section showcases repair and renewal initiatives that transform how we relate to our stuff - from community mending circles to tool libraries to reusable party kits - inspiring examples of circular living and joyful creation you can join or start in your own area.
Guides
An Alternative High Street is the vision of the Re-Action Collective. It is a space that champions repair, reuse, repurposing, sharing, and upskilling. It promotes a culture where caring for what we have and sharing it becomes the norm, rather than defaulting to buying new. Vibrant hubs of community interaction
Stories of Action
Through my interest in reducing waste at home, I came across an online directory of zero-waste initiatives. I had previously submitted new projects I’d discovered, so when I read about the party kit concept, it made sense to suggest party kit could be added to this directory.
Repair
This is a story from the heart of the Alps – a place where ski lifts reach the highest peaks, and shopping and DJs have replaced nature. Here, real estate has become the capital, displacing the original communities. You don’t need to look hard to witness how the glitz and
Nature
I’ve spent the last 20 years of my career designing functional clothing – mostly for the outdoor industry. More recently I’ve also been working in education; helping upcoming generations of designers get to grips with designing for function and purpose. I’ve learned a lot and seen many changes
Nature
Founded by outdoor enthusiasts to meet a need, many outdoor businesses came from humble beginnings. Yvon Chouinard founded Patagonia after teaching himself blacksmithing to make climbing pitons for himself and his friends that would leave no trace on the rocks he climbed. Doug Tompkins, founder of The North Face was
Reflections
PLUG-AND-PLAY AESTHETICS AND THE LONELINESS EPIDEMIC Hey guys look at this photo of me and tell me what I could change to improve my face? What surgery would make me look prettier? I’m not fishing for compliments, I really want people on the internet to tell me how to
Repair
This toolkit is designed for everyone who has set up a community-led project which aims to make a positive impact for both people and the planet. Setting up your project is a great achievement, but to be successful we need people to not just know about it, but engage with
Reflections
Yesterday (May 19) was Earth Overshoot Day in the UK. In short, if everyone on Earth lived like we do in Britain, we'd have already exhausted all the natural resources our planet can regenerate in an entire year - and we're only in May. But hold
Repair
Not everyone wants a shortcut to mending. There are people who happily learn a skill and spend time refining it. I wish I had trusted my gut instinct a bit more and not followed the capitalist notion of ‘if it’s not easy or convenient people won’t buy it’.