Clementine Sandner is a textile upcycler based in Kyoto, Japan, repurposing kimonos and obis. Jane Milburn was scheduled to meet Clementine in person during her Winston Churchill Fellowship study tour, now deferred due to the coronavirus pandemic. In this ARISING from Disruption virtual Churchill conversation series, Clementine said sustainable techniques in industry was a trend before, but now there is more genuine interest. Notes of the conversation are below.
What Clementine said:
At the beginning of this crisis a lot of projects were cancelled so my first reaction was to be down, but I am coping better now and positive things are happening.
I am French born/raised and moved to Japan six years ago to study fashion design. I love recycling and sewing, and am recycling Japanese materials – kimonos and obi fabric into bags and caps.
With the social distancing, it means my teaching how to sew and recycle has moved online. I have kits available and am working out how to add value to that experience as if meeting in real life. I have wanted to do this for a while, and now I have the time to do it properly.
Craft is comforting and it is reassuring to know I was doing something right before. I recycle materials in personal life and in work. I don’t buy processed food and cook at home, and now I have even more time to do it. If had to start from zero (skills), I might be panicking.
I have more time for fixing things and have more awareness about reuse at this time. It was hard in the beginning but now I am thinking about what I can bring to people, to inspire them to do with what they have, making it playful and easy rather than difficult.
I am used to social isolation but now that I can’t reward myself with travel, I am finding new ways to communicate with people. Every week is different, but I go to my office space every day and keep this routine and talk with people with similar mindset.
I love being in nature, and growing things, because that connects you to what is real.
Tips
- These times bring out the best and worst of thoughts but stay true to yourself. No matter how long it lasts, it will end at some point.
- Focus on what you want to do with this time, develop sustainable, ethical methods and support local businesses.
- Everyone has ideas and thinks ‘I would like to do that’ – now is the time to just do it.
Changes
- When this crisis is over, I hope it is not the same on the other side. I was born and raised in a globalized world, with everything easy to get and travelling easy. This time is raising awareness of local businesses and creating a link with what is around you rather than on other side of Earth.
- Sustainable techniques in industry was a trend before, but now there is more genuine interest.
Visit Clementine’s website here or follow her on Instagram @mikan_workshops