𝗙𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝗦𝗲𝗲𝗱 𝘁𝗼 𝗖𝗮𝘁𝘄𝗮𝗹𝗸; 𝗥𝗼𝗼𝘁𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝗥𝗲𝗻𝗲𝘄𝗮𝗹 𝗽𝗲𝗿𝗳𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗹𝘆 𝗱𝗲𝗺𝗼𝗻𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗺𝗮𝗴𝗶𝗰 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗚𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘁 𝗗𝗼𝗻𝗰𝗮𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗟𝗘𝗦𝗦𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗮𝗹!

Roots to Renewal started as a bold idea through growing plants for natural dyeing, teaching needlecraft, and upcycling textiles, and has blossomed into a movement where residents of all ages reconnect with heritage crafts and nature.

In just six months, Fashion Fusion CIC, Plantaura CIC, World, Women, Wellbeing CIC, and Artfelt CIC, led by local deliverers Estelle, Hamra, Angela, Bex and Susan brought people together to create stunning garments which were then presented to a mesmerised audience at the Great Doncaster LESStival showcase at the Danum Gallery, Library and Museum on Saturday 8th September. From seed to catwalk, participants grew plants for dyeing, learned new skills and built confidence - some even taking to the catwalk with their creations!

The project breathed new life into garments destined for the rag trade, and donated by AgeUK, making this a wonderful example of community-driven collaboration! Throughout the project, Roots to Renewal infused colour and creativity through over 60 engaging workshops that included:

🌿 Plant Cultivation: Growing dye plants in Doncaster’s community gardens and reconnecting residents with the land.

🎨 Natural Dyeing: Extracting vibrant colours from plants, flowers, and even food waste, turning fabric into wearable art.

♻️ Upcycling: Transforming donated garments into unique pieces, reducing waste and encouraging resourcefulness.

🥻 Sustainable Fashion: Creating unique and wearable art pieces from discarded textiles and discovering the joy of slow fashion.

👥 Community Empowerment: Workshops and events that nurture connections across generations, building confidence and skills.

Roots to Renewal Fashion Show

The Roots to Renewal Fashion show, a celebration of the project vision, was held at the Danum Gallery, Library, and Museum on Saturday 8th September.  A finale at the Great Doncaster LESStival showcase, 22 volunteer models showcased over 40 unique garments and outfits, all crafted with care and creativity to a captivated audience who 'oooohed', 'aaaaahed', and applauded as every new piece made its way down the catwalk! 

Roots to Renewal shows that what once felt impossible is achievable, and even better - transformational! It was a moment of genius, to host such a showcase of community creativity in our Rail Heritage centre, where Doncaster's rich history in innovation, solidarity, and engineering is celebrated.

This is more than a project; Roots to Renewal is a movement which has sparked a ripple effect across Doncaster, giving space for environmental stewardship, social connection, confidence building, and heritage renewal. It's the celebration of abundance we have around us and it perfectly aligns with the values of the Great Doncaster LESStival. Roots to Renewal show us what is possible when community champions are empowered and supported to deliver against the priorities you have told us matter to you.