There's no Fix It Friday today as I'm still celebrating Chinese New Year (it's the second day!) so I have decided to give you a quick summary of what happened at the first session (7 Feb) of Repair Kopitiam (that's cafe in the Chinese Hokkien dialect) at Blk 425, Jurong West Ave 1. Organised by Sustainable Living Lab (SL2), all the volunteers involved have been sacrificing their Sunday lie-ins since November last year to hone their repair skills. Based on the experience of overseas repair cafes, we set up repair stations for appliances, furniture, garments and a tear-down station to harvest various parts.
 Courtesy of Repair Kopitiam |
Got Kopi?
We were distributing flyers in the neighbourhood around Block 425 about a week before the actual event, and even talking to some of the residents to pique their interest. It was very difficult as a lot of them were rushing to get their groceries done at the market, or busy with their breakfast. I think it didn't help that some of the folks I approached thought it was a new establishment selling kopi (coffee)!
We learnt that the residents took notice when we mentioned the following things:
a) It's supported by a public agency ie National Environment Agency
b) It's FREE
c) It's a learning experience and their kids would benefit from it
Lots of Electronics!
We had very good business at the electronics station and saw fans, stereo, electronic piano and even an air fryer! It was so busy that I think they stayed beyond the official closing of 3pm!
Not Worth Repairing?
Unfortunately, we didn't have any visitors who wanted to learn how to repair clothes, which was completely the opposite of what I was expecting going by what happens in overseas repair cafes. As it was before Chinese New Year, I think many of the residents would have thrown out their old clothes during their Spring Cleaning. You might recall that the ladies at Clothes Call found that most of the youth (15 - 34 years) threw out their clothes two to three times a year.
Veera and Farah from SL2 said that maybe the residents already know how to repair clothes considering it's a mature estate, or perhaps the clothes are not worth repairing at all (victim of fast fashion?) - maybe they didn't even think you could repair them? I think it would be interesting to do a survey of the estate to find out more!
Veera and Farah from SL2 said that maybe the residents already know how to repair clothes considering it's a mature estate, or perhaps the clothes are not worth repairing at all (victim of fast fashion?) - maybe they didn't even think you could repair them? I think it would be interesting to do a survey of the estate to find out more!
Furniture
But all wasn't lost! We did manage to complement the furniture station by providing advice on how to make a tricycle seat, and giving advice to a lady on how to reupholster and take care of her faux leather office chair.
 |
| While the furniture station fixed the seat, we..... |
.....taught the tricycle owner how to make its cushion with their own t-shirts (upcycle!)....
Then it was back to the furniture station to staple it to the new wooden seat.
Done!
Sewing Machine Fix!
The second high of the day for us was when the sewing machines came down to be fixed. For one of the machines, it was a matter of maintaining it rather than repair. When people first get their sewing machine (like me!!), they don't realise that they need to clean and oil it. The first sewing machine we received had so much dust inside that the parts couldn't move!
 |
| I'm sure this is from the 70s!! |
 |
| I'm sure this is even older! |
No comments
Post a Comment