International Women’s Day   NACC holds lecture on fabric scrap for students |10 March 2022

In commemoration of Women’s Day, the National Arts and Craft Council (NACC) organised a lecture on fabric scrap for students from primary and secondary schools.

The aim of the lecture was to help re-valorise the use of fabric scrap, especially from cloth, to create artifacts such as quilt (kwen tapi), bed mattresses, door mats, different clothing fabrics, bags, hats including abstract art works, among others that were made by our ancestors but has since been not so popular among the new generation.

The lecture was held at NACC conference room.

The 14 students from English River secondary, Anse Boileau secondary, Anse Royale secondary, Mont Fleuri secondary and Pointe Larue primary and secondary were along with their arts teachers given an insight into how to create these artifacts, especially quilt, by popular seamstress and fashion designer Johanna Didon. She was assisted by fine art specialist teacher from the English River secondary school, Lucy Bristol.

After the theoretical session, Mrs Didon said that such workshop is ideal for any person, especially children, as it will get the country reconnected with such work that was done in the past by our ancestors.

She added that those children learning how to do quilt, and other artifacts from fabric scraps, will get them off the streets and occupied during school breaks.

Mrs Didon stated that people can even make a business and earn a living out of fabric scrap, something that she had started to venture into in her fashion company ‘Katiti’.

She noted that it is important for such session, among other sewing sessions, to be conducted for boys, to encourage more males to become seamstresses, which is lacking in the country.    

10-year-old Leeah Louis-Marie from Pointe Larue primary school, and who also does some sewing at home, said that she was happy to have attended the session to learn how different clothes can be made from fabric scrap, something she was not aware of.

As for Camilla Bistoquet from Mont Fleuri secondary school, she learned about the use of fabric scraps on social media and internet and that she was at the session because she wanted a close encounter with someone who knows the subject. The 14-year-old who knows no sewing at all, stated that she might in the future consider doing a side business in fabric scrap.

15-year-old Mikella BonBoche from Anse Boileau secondary school and who also had a quilt table runner she had made along with a friend and that was on display for her other colleagues to see, said that the session had boost up the little knowledge she had on fabric scrap. She hopes to join the Seychelles Institute of Art and Design to further her sewing skills.

The arts development officer at NACC, Johnise Juliette, said that the group along with other children interested will be further trained in the domain in practical work sessions to be organised.

She added that their work will later be mounted in an exhibition.

She noted that the idea at first was to conduct a quilt competition among the schools from usage of fabric scrap but as a result of a low turnout it was decided to conduct the workshop to enhance the children with more knowledge of the subject.

The accompanying photos show some highlights of the workshop.

Text & photos by Patrick Joubert