Rebel with a Cause at Talking Threads
Emily Honess – operator of Tamworth’s newest op shop, Talking Threads – is on a mission to normalise second-hand shopping, revitalise the lost art of mending and protect the environment, one piece of vintage clothing at a time.
Emily Honess has loved three things for as long as she can remember: fashion, op shopping for vintage treasures and face-to-face interaction with good humans.
On the other hand, three things she doesn’t love include the rise of fast fashion, throwaway culture and the lost art of mending.
“Those parts have never felt right – even though I love retail and I love clothing, the fact of the matter is the fashion industry is the third biggest polluting industry in the world,” says Emily.
“And yet, clothing production has doubled since the year 2000, people are purchasing 60 per cent more clothing and they’re only wearing it for half as long.”
The startling stats continue. Australia rates as the highest consumer of textiles anywhere in the world outside of the US and yet just seven per cent of these clothes are being recycled.
“There’s been a lot of discussion around where our waste goes, particularly since the ABC’s program War on Waste, and that’s a great thing – but the waste is the end result and we all too often forget about the first step, to reduce,” says Emily, who has worked in the not-for-profit retail sector for close to two decades.
“With second-hand clothes shopping you can jump a step – think about how that one item already had all the production value and labour go into it, appreciate that and reuse it to reduce those stats. That’s an achievable first step people can take and it starts right here, in your local op shop.”
talking Threads
In October last year, Emily teamed up with a group of friends to establish their own not-for-profit, Talking Threads, to support arts and culture. A treasure trove of vintage finds and pre-loved pieces on Tamworth’s Peel Street, the store realises a long-held dream for Emily, whose vision originally started out as a hobby hosting markets on weekends and online.
“It was a way to justify my op shopping habit,” she laughs.
“But the timing felt right and it all came together really quickly. The space we’re in wasn’t even on the market, but we made some enquiries and have been fortunate to secure a three-year lease. We cleaned, painted, built the change rooms, put up some racks and let the pieces speak for themselves – it was a case of ‘build it and they will come’.
Emily and the Talking Threads team put the callout to friends, family and the wider community for donations – and it worked. The majority of their pieces are gifted, with a handful collected by Emily on her op shopping adventures further afield.
“We’re curating the store with quality to encourage a circular economy – so even if you are buying second-hand, you’re still investing in quality pieces that can re-enter the cycle and be passed on again,” says Emily. “There’s so much good in that, but it’s also fun.”
Talking Threads will also use the space to host workshops designed to revitalise lost skills such as darning, stitching buttons and zippers, as well as more unique techniques such as Boro-inspired sessions, the Japanese practice of visible mending.
“The workshops will be held in collaboration with local artisans and makers to put textile waste to good use, while also giving people the opportunity to gather here and enjoy the space,” says Emily.
“That time together is really special and working with your hands is incredibly relaxing, nurturing and peaceful. With the rise of fast fashion and a throwaway culture, the practice of sitting down and mending something has had a time out – we want to change that. So whether you’re looking to learn a new artform or seeking more skills-based learning, Talking Threads will be somewhere people can come with a creative community atmosphere.”
Hone your style
Once upon a time, the fashion industry celebrated just two seasons on the fashion runway each year – Autumn / Winter, Spring / Summer. Today, there are 52 microseasons.
“Meaning they’re dropping new stock every week,” says Emily.
“And while the new styles might showcase minor changes, it’s forever fuelling fast fashion and pushing us to be on trend. But what if those trends don’t suit you? The value in second-hand shopping is spending time to develop your own style, search for fun pieces and create new looks. If you can’t find something ‘on trend’ that suits your body, dig deeper – focus on quality fabrics, colours and patterns to create a capsule wardrobe.
“Going against those trends, taking the time to hone your own style and being a bit of a rebel to the system is an empowering experience – and it’s good for the environment. If you ask me, that’s a win-win.”
Tracking down Talking Threads
Head to 529 Peel Street, Tamworth for all your second-hand shopping and creative workshopping needs. You can’t miss it thanks to the incredible street number artwork created by local sign painter, Panther Hand Painted.
