Re Project

Soon after opening our HQ in the Spring of 2022 we were awarded a grant to research the traders that have inhabited the town. We were particularly interested in any evidence of repairing and recycling over the years. In so doing, we had an understanding of what’s disappeared from the high street, what remains and what our town may look like in the future.

We asked current traders and organisations in Redruth town centre to think about a word beginning with ‘RE’ that best described them or captured their values in some way. This initiated conversations around REusing, REcycling and REpurposing. We then made ‘artwear’ from second-hand, recycled and repaired materials and garments which included their chosen RE word. The ‘artwear’ included banners, flags, bunting, wall hangings, accessories, such as brooches, and garments such as aprons, hats, suits and trousers. The pieces were then displayed in the various shops, offices and community spaces across the town.

Redruth Town Trail map by Redruth Illustrator Caroline Pedler. Click to enlarge.

On 21 October 2023, International Repair Day, we organised a number of activities to raise awareness about this important annual event. This included:

  • Hat decoration drop-in at Kresen Kernow;
  • Launch of a limited edition Make A Mends pack, which consisted of Remapping of Redruth Trail, booklet, badge, information slip and fabric bag;
  • Parade of banners from Kresen Kernow to Murdoch House, headed by Shallal, inclusive arts charity;
  • Performance piece which captured the stories of two families in Redruth who worked in textiles and had recycling at the core of their practice in the late 1800s and early 1900s. One was a millinery business run by women and the other repaired umbrellas, sharpened knives and dealt in second-hand clothes.
  • Repair Exhibition at Kresen Kernow – local residents were asked to contribute a repaired, revamped, recycled or repurposed object to the Repair Exhibition. Exhibits ranged from a darned sock to a squidarium! The exhibition was a wonderful demonstration of how inventive and resourceful people are today

We concluded that Redruth town centre is more than a retail centre. It’s a strong community where everyone is welcome, a community in which everyone can participate and a community that has recycling (e.g. recycling is central to the many charity shops in the town) and repairing (materially, psychologically, socially and environmentally) at its heart. We often say to visitors “Everything you need is in Redruth!”