The fabric of belonging: Place-based textile community engagement

Abstract

This article discusses how textile making can enhance the mental health and wellbeing of homeless and vulnerably housed residents as well as stimulating greater community exchange. The author uses the London-based ‘Home and Belonging’ arts programme as an action research case study to explore new methods for place-based textile engagement activities and how they can be utilised to enhance the social capital of urban neighbourhoods. As part of the programme a group of homeless and vulnerably housed residents mapped their personal journeys, explored their local neighbourhood and created a collection of upcycled chairs as well as bespoke textile designs. The positive effect of communal making activities becomes evident through visual data collection which demonstrates the increased confidence and self-esteem of the participants leading to reduced isolation as well as increased community engagement. The paper concludes to recommend the importance of community visibility in order to facilitate holistic urban fabric exchange.