ABOUT RETHREAD DENIM
Rethread Denim exists to reimagine and repurpose denim, turning discarded garments into meaningful works of art and storytelling. Using techniques like embroidery, patchwork, and laser etching, we give this iconic fabric a new voice and a second life.
At its heart, Rethread Denim believes in respecting the resources we already have. Instead of letting denim go to waste, we transform it into something creative, purposeful, and completely unique.
But Rethread Denim isn’t just about the fabric, it’s about the future.
We’re building a platform for education and action, using fashion as a tool to explore sustainability, fast fashion, and global change. Led by textile artist Kerry Gibson, and in collaboration with her wider work through Project Fashion Fixed CIC, Rethread Denim runs creative learning programmes that weave together art, geography, storytelling, and even dance, culminating in powerful exhibitions led by young people.
I’m an artist and educator based in Lincoln, UK.
Like lots of people, I found my way back to creativity later in life, after raising my two children. I went on to study a Master’s in Fashion and Textiles at Nottingham Trent, which opened a whole new way of seeing the fashion industry. I started learning more about sustainability, waste, and the real impact of clothing on people and the planet.
But in truth, this journey started a long time ago. I’ve loved sewing since school, I was that young person making things, buying from jumble sales, and reselling clothes from an early age. Later, I ran a small online business selling preloved denim for over 15 years. It gave me the freedom to work around my children and kept me close to something creative. But now, I’m at a stage where I want to do more than just resell, I want to make a difference.
KERRY GIBSON
My passion for denim has evolved into what I now call denim art, using old jeans to tell new stories. I stitch, patch, etch, and layer meaning into every piece. It’s about giving discarded materials value again and inviting people to think about where their clothes come from, and where they go.
Being a parent to two neurodivergent young people has hugely influenced my work too. I’ve seen how traditional education doesn’t work for everyone, and how creative, hands-on learning can unlock confidence, voice, and purpose. A big part of what I do now is creating spaces for those young people, ones who think differently, who might not thrive in a classroom, but who have so much to give.
Through both my artwork and my education programmes, I try to create experiences that are real, creative, and rooted in connection. Whether it’s through sewing, storytelling, or game design, I want to help young people find their place — and realise that they have the power to change things.
