The Ripple Effect Installation

10am–5pm | Drop in throughout the day

What can happen when a community comes together to make something extraordinary from what it already has?

Discover The Ripple Effect, a striking wearable textile artwork created by Netty Lou of Story of Things with contributions from more than 100 members of the community.

Inspired by the environmental message of our oceans, the project began with a simple principle: use what we already own.

Not a single new item was purchased to create the artwork. Instead, members of the community were invited to transform existing and unwanted materials into individual ocean-themed textile panels, using slow stitch, mending, block printing, embroidery, appliqué and upcycling.

Together, these contributions became a dramatic wearable artwork – one made not only from textiles, but from many hands, ideas and individual stories.

The project explores the impact of fast fashion, throwaway culture and our relationship with the natural world, while asking what becomes possible when we slow down, look again at the things we already have and see their potential differently.

About Netty Lou

Netty Lou is a Derbyshire-based textile maker and visible mender with more than 35 years' experience in fashion, dressmaking and textiles.

Her creative practice, Story of Things, is rooted in the belief that the things we already own are worth caring for.

Inspired particularly by sashiko and boro textile traditions, Netty teaches people to mend, alter and re-love their clothes through workshops, community projects and mending kits.

You can also join Netty during the festival for Scrap, Stitch & Mend, a drop-in workshop exploring visible mending and slow stitch.

Festival entry is free

The Women Who Make Festival is free to attend and you can discover The Ripple Effect throughout the day.

We'd love you to register for the festival so we can keep you informed of any updates and important information ahead of the day. Registering also helps us understand how many people will be joining us and plan for the day.

Register your free festival place – Eventbrite

Accessibility

Accessibility information for Masson Mills and the festival can be found on the main Women Who Make Festival event page.

You can also find detailed venue access information on the Masson Mills website.

If you have any access requirements or would like to discuss your visit with us, please get in touch.