Workshops & demonstrations : repair, restoration & customization

On the 8th & 9th March, as part of the 4th edition of Slowroom Brussels, the must-attend  event dedicated to slow fashion and upcycling in Brussels, MAD will host a workshop space focused on repair, restoration and customisation, alongside the sales area and musical performances.

Want to repair that one tear in your favorite top, pimp and personalize a garment or have your leather bag restored? Bring along your items to be repaired or transformed and benefit from the skill and expertise of our artisans and designers. Each intervention is carried out with care, tailored to the specific needs of your garment or accessory, offering them a unique and personalised second life.

This is the perfect opportunity to discover the craftsmanship of passionate professionals, admire their work, and perhaps even try out a few techniques yourself to breathe new life into your wardrobe. Discover the participating workshops now!

AURÉLIE DEFEZ 

Aurélie Defez, artist and designer based at MAD Incubator, focuses her practice on the intersections of fashion and graphic design. Drawing inspiration from meme culture, she uses humour and sarcasm to transform garments into pieces that carry critical narratives, employing digital embroidery as her medium. Through her workshop, she offers textile customisation akin to a tattoo parlour: choose from subversive phrases and visuals designed as ‘flash tattoos’, and leave with your freshly hacked garment!

What should I expect? A personalised workshop dedicated to customising garments using a digital embroidery machine.
What should I bring? A garment to customise (t-shirt, shirt, jacket, scarf, skirt, dress, etc.)
What is the price? Between €40 and €100, depending on the chosen design.

The workshop is available continuously from 12pm to 6pm. No prior registration required.

CYCLUP

CYCLUP, workshop-boutique managed by the ASBL Job Office in partnership with the CPAS, promotes craftsmanship and social commitment by training seamstresses in professional reintegration. Specialising in the transformation of second-hand clothing, the team focuses on upcycling, combining creativity with sustainability.  

During this workshop, you will have the opportunity to personalise your own garments by applying pop and creative textile patches. A fun and accessible way to express your style while embracing a truly sustainable approach!  

What should I expect? A collective workshop dedicated to customising garments using textile patches.  
What should I bring? A garment to customise (jeans, jacket, sweatshirt, t-shirt, shirt, dress, etc.)  
What is the price? Between €2.50 and €20, depending on the chosen patch.  

The workshop is available continuously from 12pm to 6pm. No prior registration required.

KERIKO STUDIO

Specialising in the restoration and repair of leather goods, the workshop led by Keren Haddad, founder of Keriko Studio, invites you to give a new life to your favorite bag. During this session, you will learn how to clean, hydrate, and protect your leather bags (excluding suede, nubuck, and patent leather) using simple and effective techniques. The programme includes a light cleaning to remove impurities, deep hydration with delicate Famaco products, and polishing to revive your piece. Additionally, Keren will guide you on how to sustainably protect your bag to maintain its shape and beauty. A wonderful opportunity to pamper your bag while learning the secrets of effective and successful care!

What should I expect? A collective workshop focused on the restoration and cleaning of your leather bag.  
What should I bring? Your leather bag.  
What is the price? €30 per person.  
How long does the workshop last? Between 45 minutes and 1 hour.  

Workshops are available for a group of 6 people every hour, from 12pm to 6pm. No prior registration required.  

STUDIO ANNELEEN BERTELS

 Anneleen Bertels, a Brussels-based textile designer, elevates your garments with her unique expertise: adorning your fabrics with delicate embellishments, transforming them into true pieces of wearable art. Combining traditional embroidery with modern innovations, she turns each item into a genuine work of art. Her "jewellerized textiles," enriched with recycled or precious materials, incorporate refined techniques such as Lunéville crochet and gold embroidery. Bring her your worn or torn garments for a custom transformation, or simply come and admire the meticulousness and finesse of her craft throughout the weekend!

What should I expect? A performative and artistic demonstration of jewellery-inspired embroidery.  
What should I bring? A worn or damaged textile garment or accessory.  
What is the price? From €128 to €460, depending on the type of repair.  

A continuous performative and artistic demonstration from 12pm to 6pm. Quotes and orders can be made on-site.

TOUFAN HOSSEINY

Toufan Hosseiny, a textile artist based between Brussels and London, offer through her project  I mend while she sleeps,  a visible mending service—a technique that repairs and enhances worn garments by embracing the marks of time. Working primarily with knitted and woven textiles, she transforms snags and holes into artistic interventions, characterised by repetitive patterns and meditative gestures. Straddling the line between art and craftsmanship, her practice, born from her desire to stay connected to her art while navigating her new identity as a mother, explores the personal and societal transformations associated with motherhood. Bring your worn or torn garments and let Toufan reimagine them with tenderness, creativity, and imagination!

What should I expect? A performative and artistic demonstration of visible mending.  
What should I bring? A woven or knitted garment with holes or snags.  
What is the price? Starting from €30, varying depending on the type of repair.  

A continuous performative and artistic demonstration from 12pm to 6pm. Quotes and orders can be made on-site.

PRATICAL INFORMATION

Dates & timing:

• Saturday 8th March from 12:00 to 18:00 

• Sunday 9th March from 12:00 to 18:00

Price:

• Access to these workshops is included in the €7 entry ticket (which also includes a free drink and access to the sales area). Repairs and interventions carried out on-site are available for an additional cost, which varies depending on the size and complexity of the request, and is determined by each participant.

• Access is free for children under 12 years old.

Address: MAD Brussels, Rue du Rempart des Moines 50, 1000 Brussels (entrance at the back of the MAD Brussels building)