In May and June of this year, a series of five zero-waste workshops took place in Cēsis, at the environmental education concept space ŠŪNA, where people of various generations came together to learn how to give things a second life. Participants gained practical skills that enable them to transform and restore items that would otherwise be thrown away—reducing waste and promoting sustainable, creative use of resources in everyday life.
During the workshops, attendees explored a variety of techniques for restoring and repurposing objects—from crocheting handbags using yarn made from old fabrics, to creating decorative storage boxes from reused cardboard and textiles, to clothing renewal with appliqué and prints, sustainable wardrobe building, decorative mending, and glass painting.
The zero-waste workshops were organized by the Cēsis Municipality as part of the LIFE Waste to Resources IP, and covered the following topics:
Workshop: “Thread Revolution” (May 16) In the first session, led by Viktorija Grappa and Zane Karīna Kalēja, old T-shirts and other textiles were given a second life by being turned into cotton yarn. The instructors taught how to use these yarns in crochet to make rugs, baskets, bags, and other practical items.
Workshop: “Cardboard Box Transformations” (May 23)Laura Ločmele shared her experience in turning used cardboard boxes into beautiful storage organizers using fabric scraps and natural materials. Participants learned how to create decorative storage solutions with both functional and aesthetic value—without unnecessary expenses.
Lecture: “Sustainable Wardrobe” and Clothing Repair Workshop (May 30)Stylist Karolīna Baumane gave a talk revealing the behind-the-scenes reality of the fashion industry and its environmental impact, encouraging everyone to rethink their shopping habits. Agnese Gaidelone then led a hands-on workshop where participants learned clothing repair techniques and took part in an accessory swap.
Workshop: “Clothing Restoration with Appliqué and Print” (June 6)Artist Dace Vaļiniece introduced the appliqué technique as a creative way to revive worn clothing, while master craftswoman Ilva Lejiņa conducted a printing workshop—offering solutions for covering up stains or damage and giving garments a new, unique look.
Workshop: “Decorative Mending and Glass Painting” (June 13)In the final workshop, artist Elīza Māra Kamradze-Tūtere demonstrated decorative mending—a method where the patchwork is intentionally highlighted as a design feature. Meanwhile, artist Kristīne Grimma led a session on painting glass items, encouraging participants to preserve and enhance what might otherwise be discarded.
Lāsma Ozola, Head of the Zero Waste Community at the Environmental Department of the Cēsis Municipality, emphasized their excitement about involving creative professionals from Latvia in leading the workshops. These experts, with passion and a strong aesthetic sense, helped demonstrate how to give items a second life. For example, the decorative mending workshop was led by Elīza Māra Kamradze-Tūtere, who studied at the Royal School of Needlework in the UK and learned mending techniques from internationally renowned artist Celia Pym. Her creative approach redefines mending—not just as repair, but as an expression of care and a way to give garments a bold, new character. It’s a beautiful and inspiring philosophy that we wish to pass on to Cēsis residents: to create, preserve, and respectfully transform the old into something valuable again.
This five-part workshop series showed that a sustainable lifestyle can be creative, aesthetically pleasing, and accessible to everyone. We are thrilled to see more and more people choosing to give things a second life, learn new skills, and share with others. We will continue to support such initiatives so that sustainable choices become a natural part of daily life in the Cēsis region.
The Project “Waste To Resources Latvia - boosting regional sustainability and circularity ” (LIFE Waste To Resources IP, LIFE20 IPE/LV/000014) is implemented with the financial support of the LIFE Programme of the European Union and Ministry of Smart Administration and Regional Development of the Republic of Latvia.
The information reflects only the LIFE Waste To Resources IP beneficiaries’ view and the European Climate, Infrastructure and Environment Executive Agency is not responsible for any use that may be made of the information contained therein.
