By DayakDaily Team
KUCHING, Oct 14: Upcycling and repurposing old fabrics into useful products such as bags and floor mats can significantly reduce waste while promoting sustainable lifestyle practices, a message championed by the Kuching South City Council (MBKS) through its Sew & Save Programme.
Organised in collaboration with the Malaysian Creative Sewing Arts Association, the programme encouraged participants to transform discarded materials into creative, functional items while embracing the principles of sustainability and environmental responsibility.
The event, graced by MBKS Mayor Dato Wee Hong Seng, was also attended by Deputy Mayor Dato Zaiedi Suhaili, councillors, and senior MBKS officers, underscoring the council’s strong commitment to fostering eco-consciousness, creativity, and community innovation.
Wee highlighted that small yet meaningful actions, such as repurposing old textiles, not only help minimise waste but also nurture creativity and a shared sense of responsibility for the environment.
“The Sew & Save Programme embodies MBKS’s ongoing efforts to inspire the community to practise the 3R principles — Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle — in their daily lives,” he said in a media release today.
The Sew & Save initiative featured three hands-on workshops, each focusing on sustainable crafts. Participants first learned to convert plastic materials into textiles, followed by sessions on turning used jeans into bags and repurposing old clothes into colourful floor mats. These creative workshops showcased how unwanted items can be given new life, reducing landfill waste while encouraging practical, eco-friendly habits.
Aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) — particularly SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities), SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production), SDG 13 (Climate Action), and SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals) — Dato Wee said the programme reflects MBKS’s leadership in promoting sustainable urban living through community engagement and creative partnerships.
“I hope the Sew & Save Programme will continue to inspire Kuching residents to embrace upcycling, reduce waste, save costs, and protect our planet together,” he added. — DayakDaily
