Sydneysider Ridhika Naidoo has found the perfect way to blend creativity and sustainability with her business, Green Fix. Joining the Sustainable Home Hub, she describes the business as a “sustainability and creativity store”. They run regular creative workshops encouraging people to value the handmade and learn a new skill. One of her most popular workshops is all about making your own reusable bag – with reducing single use plastics a massive social change that is happening everywhere. Participants learn macramé techniques and how to create their own bag. “We introduced the workshops in July, to coincide with supermarkets ending plastic bags in NSW. When the workshop was developed we wanted to show that you can use macramé in a practical sense. As well as workshops we sell a range of plants, preloved wares, secondhand books and furniture” explains Ridhika. She has also just launched “Create and Make in Your Lunch Break” for workers and locals in the area, so they can take a break, enjoy craft and complete projects in their lunchtime. Such a great idea!
Ridhika has created a workshop just for our readers – “Repair What You Wear Party” – and it will be a one day event, where participants can come in at any time with their item that needs repairing and be taken through how to fix it. Food and drink will be provided. Head here to book
Other Workshops include:
- Mystery book workshop
- Make a plant hanger
- Make a card or a few
- Make a reusable bag workshop
The workshops are created with a green focus in mind – something that will be sustainable. The homewares stocked in the shop are all vintage or secondhand, handmade goods are produced locally, and they have a local nursery supplier for a small range of plants available in store. Open since April 2018, Ridhika is a designer by trade. She has always been passionate about all facets of design and making, from greenery to furniture. “Craft and design has been a big part of my life and is something that I find is a dying art …especially for younger generations. I think it’s now taken for granted as you can often buy products cheaply and people do not realise how much time and effort goes into making, the cost of materials and the overall value” she says. Learning the of Macrame from her mum, who assists her in running workshops, she wants to encourage people to learn new skills and walk away with something they can use in the future.
The business started as part of the Liverpool Pop Up Project (which is currently encouraging creative businesses to open in the local area, where she grew up). “My inspiration came from my love of design and handmade. I’ve always dreamt of opening my own interiors store and I’ve been a collector of furniture and preloved wares ever since I can remember – some friends of mine joke – a hoarder!” she says. Her parents were a big influence, teaching her from a young age to try and repair things rather than throw them away, and to create her own things and learn new skills along the way.
When it came to craft and making it’s always been a passion and Ridhika says that is is also good for you – being quite therapeutic. When you get into the flow of creativity and making something with your own hands, you focus on one thing, and by the end you achieve something, which you’ll value more as it’s something you have created. “It’s great in our tech driven society as it takes you away from the screen. I like to think of it as craftercise” she laughs.
Ridhika’s Tips on Being More Sustainable
I believe we can all do our bit to live a more sustainable life. My business – Green Fix – aims to inspire people to live a green life, by valuing the handmade connecting with nature, minimising waste and learning something new along the way.
At home my apartment is decorated with handmade items, secondhand furniture and vintage pieces, that I have collected over the years.
There’s one item which I love – a wooden Blanket Box I made in high school, that’s a reminder of what led me on my current path. With my customers I am trying to promote the value of handmade, by encouraging them to learn a new skill, right now that being macramé. You don’t need to spend a fortune for your home to look good. Adding handmade, secondhand, vintage pieces, are always great for feature pieces and making a statement. Not only that they’re pieces of history.
Find Green Fix on the Hub and follow through to get all the details of upcoming workshops and what is on offer.
Helen x
The post Sustainable Living and Creativity with Green Fix appeared first on The Sustainable Home Hub.