RTÉ reporter Evelyn O'Rourke joined Claire Byrne on RTÉ Radio 1 to discuss a Christmas jumper workshop being held in Crumlin. Listen back above.
With the cost of living rising across the country, there is a growing appeal to the idea of using imaginative, cost-friendly and creative ways to celebrate the festive season.
For one sustainable clothing project in Crumlin, they are running workshops and swaps to highlight this budget-friendly and eco-friendly message.
Change Clothes Crumlin is a temporary clothing reuse hub that is creating a social community space for swapping, up-cycling, mending, learning, and meeting like-minded people.
To find out more about this initiative, RTÉ reporter Evelyn O'Rourke headed to the Richmond Barracks in Inchicore to attend their Christmas jumper workshop to find out how she could breathe new life into an old Christmas classic.
Praising organiser Mary Fleming for her gentle and supportive manner, Evelyn told Claire that the workshop was welcoming to beginners and professionals alike, and provided all the essentials for a good Christmas jumper.
"They had the sequins and the fabric paints and the threads and the needles and the scissors, and comfortable chairs, which was very important," she says.
Lots of people dropped in during the workshop, but one woman that really stood out to Evelyn was Diana Lavine (@dianalavineknits), a knitting aficionado who runs her own Etsy shop.
Diana brought along a pink jumper that she herself had made during lockdown that she wanted to give some Christmas flair. Inspired by British swimmer and knitter Tom Daly (@madewithlovebytomdaley), she decided to add a green Christmas tree with colourful baubles to her design.
"I work as an anesthetic nurse at the children's hospital - very high-pressure, stressed, long hours - so this is my calm," she explains.
"Change Clothes Crumlin is doing a fantastic job in terms of what they're doing in raising awareness of upcycling," says Diana. "I've always upcycled my clothes. Now that this is at the forefront of sustainability, it's a fantastic way to get your creative side to you to make whatever. Second-hand and charity shops are the way to go."
To find out more about Change Clothes Crumlin and to hear the report in full, listen back above.
