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COPENPAY: GIVING NEW LIFE TO CLOTHING THROUGH JAPANESE CRAFT

Can a single stitch change the way we relate to the clothes we wear? How can we make more of what we already own? And what happens when we begin to see garments not as disposable, but as something we can repair and renew?

As a part of CopenPay, Designmuseum Danmark offers a new series of free, hands-on workshops that invites both international visitors and local audiences, children and adults alike, to explore textile craftsmanship and new ways of caring for and extending the life of textiles throughout the summer and autumn season.

The workshops are built on a simple premise: our relationship with objects shapes how we care for them. By investing time and attention in our textiles, we not only extend their lifespan, we deepen our connection to them. Participants will leave with practical techniques that can be applied again and again in everyday life.

SUMMER: SHIBORI

The summer programme centres on shibori, the traditional Japanese dyeing technique. Set in the museum garden, the workshops invite participants to transform worn, stained or faded textiles by folding, binding and dyeing fabric in deep indigo hues—turning imperfection into a defining aesthetic.

Participants can work with materials provided by the museum or bring their own textiles in need of renewal. Sample materials have been generously donated by Textilia.

AUTUMN: SASHIKO

In the autumn, the focus shifts to sashiko, a Japanese technique rooted in repair and reinforcement, where mending becomes both visible and decorative. Using simple needle and thread, participants are introduced to the method and encouraged to work with either provided or personal materials.

In connection with the upcoming exhibition by Danish designer Henrik Vibskov, the workshops will also incorporate surplus textiles from the designer’s own practice.

How does it work?

CopenPay is an initiative by Wonderful Copenhagen, Copenhagen’s official tourism organisation, that allows visitors and local residents to experience the city through responsible actions. Instead of paying with money, participants can gain access to experiences such as this workshop by taking positive action – for example, by cycling, recycling, or participating in activities that deepen their understanding of circularity.

At Designmuseum Danmark, we work with the things you already have. In the workshops, you learn to repair, renew, and rethink textiles, so that the things you would have thrown away receive new life. When you participate, your action is registered in the CopenPay system through an app or another digital solution.