Tag: Sustainable Textiles

Of Interest: Rethinking Textile Waste Symposium and Exhibitions- Haslach an der Mühl, Austria

Published on by Feltmakers Ireland

This year, the Textile Culture Haslach‘s summer symposium is centred around the theme “Rethinking Textile Waste.” It explores current issues surrounding overproduction and recycling, questions our approach to fast fashion and production waste, and highlights ideas that view waste as a valuable resource. Several exhibitions and evening events will shed light on different aspects of this broad topic.

When: the 20th -31st of July, 2026

Where: Textile Culture Haslach,, Stahlmühle 4, 4170 Haslach an der Mühl, AUSTRIA

For more information, visit https://www.textilkurse.at/sommersymposium/

Instagram @textileszentrumhaslach


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Of Interest: Wool in the News – Peatland Restoration – Antrim Hills

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A new peatland restoration trial at Slievenanee Mountain in the Antrim Hills is exploring whether locally sourced wool can help restore damaged blanket bog.

The initiative, led by Ulster Wildlife and Ulster Farmers’ Union, working alongside Sustainable Rope Ltd, Ulster Wool and Ulster University, is the largest trial of its kind in Northern Ireland to date. There are 60 ‘logs’ made from scoured local wool.

The project involves installing 60 “wool logs” in areas of exposed and eroded blanket bog. Made from scoured fleece compacted into wool textile sacks, the logs are designed to slow water flow, trap sediment, and support the re-establishment of peat-forming vegetation such as sphagnum moss.

Wool, as a material, has already shown promising results in peatland trials elsewhere in the UK, particularly at upland sites in Scotland and northern England, where it has been used to stabilise eroding peat and retain moisture.

UFU Peatlands officer Stephanie Clokey said, “Wool is a natural, biodegradable material and is a logical solution for peatland management. Here we’re helping to rebuild damaged areas by using materials that work with the landscape, while supporting local farmers and adding value to something that has recently often been treated as a waste product rather than a resource, while creating new opportunities for what is often an underused by-product of farming.”

To learn more about the project, visit their website – https://www.ulsterwildlife.org/news/local-wool-put-test-innovative-peatland-restoration-trial

@ulsterwildlife

Disclaimer for Feltmakers Ireland Blog

Feltmakers Ireland aims to share information about awards, education, events, exhibitions, and opportunities that you will find interesting. Our sharing is neither paid for by nor an endorsement of these individuals or organisations.

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Of Interest: ReStyle Dublin – This Saturday in Dún Laoghaire, Co Dublin

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ReStyle Dublin will take place across Dún Laoghaire this Saturday, the 4th of July, bringing together a full day of creativity, sustainability, fashion, and community.

Guild member Sandra Reynolds is one of the Makers and will be offering two embroidery workshops to upcycle wearables.

Throughout the day there are:

  • Workshops
  • Live demonstrations
  • A repair café
  • Swap shops
  • A fashion show
  • Talks, stalls, exhibitions, and much more!

The organisers ask that attendees bring clothes in need of repair, clothes to upcycle or alter, and clothes to swap or donate.

More information and free tickets can be found here – https://www.eventbrite.com/e/restyle-dublin-a-sustainable-fashion-expo-free-event-tickets-1991909161924

Their Instagram @restyle.ireland @rediscoveryctr @sandystitchedup


Disclaimer for Feltmakers Ireland Blog

Feltmakers Ireland aims to share information about awards, education, events, exhibitions, and opportunities that you will find interesting. Our sharing is neither paid for by nor an endorsement of these individuals or organisations.

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Of Interest: Galway Wool Co-op’s 6th Annual Meitheal – Co Galway

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Two sheep peering through a fence with text overlay announcing the 6th National Harvest of Irish Wool from Ireland's Native Breed called The Galway.

Save the Date: The Galway Wool Co-op will host their 6th National Harvest of Irish Wool from Ireland’s native sheep breed. This year, the Meitheal will be open to the public, and all are invited!

When: Saturday, the 18th of July, 10 AM to 12:30 PM

Where: Athenry Co-operative Livestock Mart, Prospect, Athenry, Co Galway, H65 DW74

More information about the Galway Wool Co-op on their website – https://galwaywool.ie/

Their Instagram @thegalwaywoolco_op

Disclaimer for Feltmakers Ireland Blog

Feltmakers Ireland aims to share information about awards, education, events, exhibitions, and opportunities that you will find interesting. Our sharing is neither paid for by nor an endorsement of these individuals or organisations.

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Questions: For questions about content, please follow the link to the organisation involved in hosting the event.

Exhibition: Wearable Art by Claire Garvey – Made in Wicklow Invited Guest 2026 – Powerscourt House

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Promotional poster for Claire Garvey's exhibition 'From Canvas to Cloth', showcasing 15 paintings and 15 wearable art sculptures. The event runs from 21 February to 1 March at Powerscourt House, Enniskerry, with free admission.
Display of artistic garments created by Claire Garvey, featuring mannequins dressed in vibrant, textured outfits against a rustic stone wall, with signage reading 'Claire Garvey Canvas to Cloth'.

As part of Made in Wicklow’s ‘For the Love of Creativity’ series, Claire Garvey presents ‘From Canvas to Cloth’, an exhibition featuring 15 bespoke, hand-crafted, and hand-beaded pieces of wearable art. Each garment is inspired by one of Claire’s ten favourite paintings, with influences ranging from the bold strokes of Van Gogh and Miro to the intricate worlds of Botticelli and HR Giger.

Claire Garvey is a bespoke designer with a couture shop in the heart of Temple Bar, on Cow’s Lane, Dublin. She has designed for the Oscars, the Emmys, the X-Factor, and the Cannes Film Festival. She specialises in one-off outfits for musicians and celebrities and is a celebrated advocate for ‘slow fashion’ and sustainability, hand-making every piece in her workshop with a focus on recycled trims and exquisite craftsmanship.

When: The show runs through Sunday, 1st March, 10:30 AM – 4:30 PM. Free entry.

Where: The Garden Room, Powerscourt House, Enniskerry, Co Wicklow

For more information about the exhibition, visit the Made in Wicklow website – https://madeinwicklow.com/powerscourt-2026/

To see more of her work, visit her website – https://www.clairegarvey.com/

Her Instagram – @clairegarveydesigner_

Disclaimer for Feltmakers Ireland Blog

Feltmakers Ireland aims to share information about awards, education, events, exhibitions, and opportunities that you will find interesting. Our sharing is neither paid for by nor an endorsement of these individuals or organisations.

Contact Us: If you have any concerns about content, please email us at feltmakersie@gmail.com.

Questions: For questions about content, please follow the link to the organisation involved in hosting the event.

Of Interest: Wool in School – Climate Education for Children

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A smiling girl wearing a blue dress stands next to educational activity worksheets. The text promotes a free kids' workbook related to climate plans, highlighting that it is downloadable, printable, and shareable.

Wool in School has a licensing opportunity: a Climate-Resource Information Pack that artists, educators, or businesses can share online.

The pack is free to download, print, and share with customers, clients, staff, families, schools, and community partners. Included is a workbook and ten activity sheets.

Why this matters for fashion and textiles:

Materials and product lifecycles sit at the heart of fashion’s climate impact on Sustainable Development Goals. These include the following: fibre choices, durability, repair, reuse, waste, land and biodiversity.

Climate strategies succeed when people understand these links. Giving children (and the adults around them) practical tools is one of the most credible “beyond the value chain” actions a fashion or textile business can take.

From fibre production to product lifespan and end-of-life, textiles connect to:

  • carbon impacts,
     
  • circularity and waste reduction,
     
  • biodiversity and land stewardship,
     
  • consumer behaviour and repair culture.
     
  • Supporting education in this space is a credible way to strengthen one’s climate narrative.

For more information about the Climate-Resource Information Pack, visit the Wool in School website – https://woolinschool.com/businesses

Their Instagram: @woolinschool

Disclaimer for Feltmakers Ireland Blog

Feltmakers Ireland aims to share information about awards, education, events, exhibitions, and opportunities that you will find interesting. Our sharing is neither paid for by nor an endorsement of these individuals or organisations.

Contact Us: If you have any concerns about content, please email us at feltmakersie@gmail.com.

Questions: For questions about content, please follow the link to the organisation involved in hosting the event.

Of Interest: Second Printing of ‘Exploring Irish Wool for Feltmaking’ Now Available in Libraries Across Ireland

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Cover of the book 'Exploring Irish Wool for Feltmaking' featuring a rural landscape with sheep and feltmaking materials. Text on the right announces 'Our Book is in the Library!' and shows a search result from Libraries Ireland with availability details.

We’re delighted to share that the second printing of ‘Exploring Irish Wool for Feltmaking’ is now available through the library system in Ireland.

If you search your local library catalogue or visit the Libraries Ireland website, you’ll find that there are currently 20 copies in the system. Some are still on order and being processed, but you can reserve a copy and have it delivered directly to your local branch for collection.


You can find and reserve the book here: https://librariesireland.spydus.ie/cgi-bin/spydus.exe/FULL/WPAC/BIBENQ/754928726/80649840,1

Editor’s Note: You will need a valid library card to reserve the book.

Thank You to Our Supporters

Everyone at Feltmakers Ireland would like to extend heartfelt thanks to all of our wool-loving readers and supporters who have made this second printing possible.

We are especially grateful to artist and guild member Annika Berglund for being the book’s editor. She took on the complex and detailed work of establishing the wool breed testing subcommittee and organised the results into a cohesive, educational, and beautifully presented book.

Prefer to Own Your Own Copy?

If you’d like to add ‘Exploring Irish Wool for Feltmaking’ to your own textile book collection, you can purchase a copy directly from our website: https://feltmakersireland.com/exploring-irish-wool-for-feltmaking/


Whether you borrow it through your local library or keep a copy on your own shelf, we hope this book continues to inspire your exploration of Ireland’s rich and diverse wool heritage.

Disclaimer for Feltmakers Ireland Blog

Feltmakers Ireland aims to share information about awards, education, events, exhibitions, and opportunities that you will find interesting. Our sharing is neither paid for by nor an endorsement of these individuals or organisations.

Contact Us: If you have any concerns about content, please email us at feltmakersie@gmail.com.

Questions: For questions about content, please follow the link to the organisation involved in hosting the event.

Of Interest: Textile Academy Bootcamp – Dundalk

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Promotional poster for the Textile Academy Bootcamp 2026 featuring a model in a unique textile outfit. Details include dates from May 25th to 30th in Ireland, highlighting activities like lectures, workshops, and networking. Features a QR code for booking.

Fabricademy, Textile and Technology Academy is a multidisciplinary, intensive training program at the intersection of Textiles, Digital Fabrication, and Biology, delivered in equipped laboratories worldwide, providing distributed education with hands-on technical learning.

This year’s 5-day Fabricademy Bootcamp is hosted by Creative Spark Dundalk, and is open to students, designers, teachers, professionals, and curious makers interested in sustainable practices.

Discover laser-cut zero-waste fashion, 3D printing on textiles, biomaterials, electronic textiles, silk screen printing with lake pigments, seaweed harvesting, tufting, and more.

When: the 25th – 30th of May, 2026

Where: Creative Spark, Clontygora Ct, Muirhevnamore, Dundalk, Co. Louth, A91 HF77, Ireland and other locations in Dundalk.

For more information and to register, visit their website – https://bootcamp.textile-academy.org/

Instagram: @fabricademy @creativesparkdundalk

Disclaimer for Feltmakers Ireland Blog

Feltmakers Ireland aims to share information about awards, education, events, exhibitions, and opportunities that you will find interesting. Our sharing is neither paid for by nor an endorsement of these individuals or organisations.

Contact Us: If you have any concerns about content, please email us at feltmakersie@gmail.com.

Questions: For questions about content, please follow the link to the organisation involved in hosting the event.

Sunday Session Co Galway – Needle Felt a Heart with Irish Wool

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A promotional image for an FMI-West workshop featuring needle felted heart crafts. The image shows five heart-shaped felt items on a floral background, with details about the workshop date, time, and location.

Feltmakers Ireland-West’s next Sunday Session will be this Sunday, on the 15th February 2026.

Come along, and needle felt a heart made of Irish-raised wool with guild member Katarina Hruskova of Woolstore.ie

Time: 11 AM

Where: Bru Bride House, Tirboy, Tuam, Co Galway, H54 EY24

Note: Feltmakers Ireland-West meets on the THIRD Sunday of the month.

To learn more about Feltmakers Ireland-West and our members who are part of it, please visit the Feltmakers Ireland-West website – https://feltmakersireland-west.com/

Disclaimer for Feltmakers Ireland Blog

Feltmakers Ireland aims to share information about awards, education, events, exhibitions, and opportunities that you will find interesting. Our sharing is neither paid for by nor an endorsement of these individuals or organisations.

Contact Us: If you have any concerns about content, please email us at feltmakersie@gmail.com.

Questions: For questions about content, please follow the link to the organisation involved in hosting the event.

Education: Heritage Sheep Farming and the Business of Irish Wool – with Blátnaid Gallagher and Jean Long – Ballymaloe Cookery School – Co Cork

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A close-up of yarn balls in various shades, including red and pink, alongside a knitted garment on a checkered tablecloth, with a 'Farm School Course' button featured.

The Ballymaloe Cookery School has a one-day, in-person course on Heritage Sheep Farming and the Business of Irish Wool.

From the website – “The majority of Irish sweaters are not made with Irish wool, they are just knitted in Ireland- a fact which many people are unaware of. The reason for this is more complex than you may expect; both Blátnaid Gallagher, Founder of the Galway Wool Coop, and Jean Long, Master Hand Knitter, have made it their business to understand why and advocate for a change.

This 1-day course will unpack this issue and invite you to learn from and respect what farmers like Blatnaid and craftspeople like Jean are doing in the restoration of heritage breeds like Galway Sheep and in creating demand within the business of Irish Wool.”

In addition, there will be the following:

  • Tour of the organic farm, gardens and greenhouses
  • Hands-on learning through working with Irish Wool and learning the forgotten skill of hand knitting 

When: Tuesday, the 3rd of March, 9:30 AM – 5 PM.

Where: Ballymaloe Cookery School, Shanagarry North, Co Cork, P25 R274

For more information and to register, visit the website – https://www.ballymaloecookeryschool.ie/courses/the-business-and-beauty-of-irish-wool

@thegalwaywoolco_op @jeanmlong

Disclaimer for Feltmakers Ireland Blog

Feltmakers Ireland aims to share information about awards, education, events, exhibitions, and opportunities that you will find interesting. Our sharing is neither paid for by nor an endorsement of these individuals or organisations.

Contact Us: If you have any concerns about content, please email us at feltmakersie@gmail.com.

Questions: For questions about content, please follow the link to the organisation involved in hosting the event.