TEXTILES: Closet Rework: Wear the Change with Andrew Phua & Bill Stearman
This exciting new course is all about hands-on sustainable fashion. Participants will transform old clothes into fresh, one-of-a-kind pieces. This 6 week course will take place at the County Arts Lab in the Picton Armoury. Through cutting, patching, redesigning, and simple pattern-making, participants will learn the basics of garment construction while exploring fabric, texture, colour, and personal style. They'll also experiment with giving surplus and reclaimed textiles new life, discovering creative ways to turn overlooked materials into wearable designs. More than a sewing class, it's a chance to express individuality, build practical skills, and see fashion through a more creative and sustainable lens. Participants will have the opportunity to showcase their work at The Maker's Hand craft market on November 5th 2026 at County Arts Lab. No prior sewing or design experience required, just an open mind, a willingness to experiment, and a few garments youth are prepared to reinvent into something new.
SAVE 75% ON REGISTRATION FEES!Thanks to a special partnership with Rue Pigalle, a discounted rate will automatically apply at the time of registration for ALL participants. No application is required. Why this generous discount? Rue Pigalle believes that as a practice and career, craft is a joyful and optimistic way to address the serious issues of sustainability, skills transmission, community economy, and equality.
If this discounted rate still remains a barrier, please reach out to YCA Program Lead Allison Nichol Longtin at [email protected]
ABOUT YOUTH CRAFT ACADEMY
Launched in fall 2023, this unique and dynamic multi-year program is designed for youth ages 12-17 with an interest in, or curiosity about the art of craft. Participants will learn, play, and build using a variety of materials such as clay, wood, glass, metal, and fibre to create functional and decorative objects.
The program is delivered by local professional artisans, artists, and other members of the craft sector. Youth are encouraged, but not required, to participate in all 4 courses offered each year. Now is the perfect time to get involved!
Andrew Phua is a multidisciplinary artist and bespoke designer whose creative practice explores the transformation of reclaimed textiles, surplus materials, and old garments into new wearable pieces and textile artworks. His work includes one-of-a-kind bow ties, fabric butterfly accessories inspired by origami, shirt dresses and vests made from remnant fabrics, giving once-used materials a fresh purpose through thoughtful new designs. More recently, his practice has expanded into mixed-media textile art that celebrates craftsmanship, sustainability, and creative reuse. Born in Indonesia, Andrew is a graduate of RMIT University's Fashion Design program in Melbourne, Australia and Humber College's Creative Photography program in Toronto. He brings a diverse background in fashion, design, and visual arts to his work. Through his practice, Andrew is passionate about exploring sustainable approaches to fashion by repurposing pre-loved clothing and overlooked materials into something new to wear. As an instructor, he encourages young makers to develop sewing skills, experiment with materials, and discover the creativity and confidence that come from making something unique by hand.
Bill Stearman is a Queer quilt maker, storyteller, and social activist living and working in Picton, Ontario. He is a ‘quiltivist’ creating bold, striking and often moving pieces that address topics not usually associated with quilts, including mental health and Queer issues. Bill pushes limits with his work. He explores alternative materials and techniques and he challenges conventional quilt making. Bill creates work that makes viewers think, react, and have important conversations. His hope is that folks will see his work as true and honest; something that matters; something that will make a difference. His most recent fascination is using quilts to record the progression of legal rights for Queers in Canada as advanced through Supreme Court decisions and legislative acts of Parliament (1950 to the present) and as a medium to record stories told by Queer elders who lived this history.
Art supply fee - Please note that the cost of supplies is not included in the course fee; this amount depends on the course, and will be automatically added to your total. If this cost is prohibitive for you, please contact Stacey at [email protected] before registering to make alternative arrangements.
Offline registration - We prefer to take payment and registration through this form, but if you are not comfortable with this option and it is more than 2 weeks before the course begins, please check the "Offline" box in the Billing Information section below. We will contact you with alternative payment options. Payment must be received at least one week before the course begins.
Processing fee - This covers transaction and ticketing fees. We've decided to use Regfox, the most affordable ticketing platform we could find, which will collectively save our participants over $1000 in processing fees per year.
Policies and Waivers - We've included these as part of the registration process (thank you for your patience!) to save some paperwork on your end and get straight to art making when we are in person!
We encourage those who are able to pay a little more to choose this price . By doing so, you are helping build a community that prioritizes access to the arts for all, and allowing us to cover more of our operating costs, which include Artist Instructor fees, rent, and more.
This price allows us to cover most of the costs of running the course.
This price is available to those who find the other two options too high for their household.
By clicking this box, you are indicating that the youth participant has a parent / guardian's permission to leave at the end of the course without a parent / guardian present. If you do NOT check this box, we expect a parent / guardian to be present at the end of each course to pick up your child (the participant).
