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Our community: Poonam Padmani, Eco Peace

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Poonam Padmani is a Cavan-based sewing instructor, helping people turn otherwise discarded items of clothing into useful, creative alternatives. Poonam spoke to us about why creativity inspires her, how communities can learn to be more circular, and how her work could reach more people.

Poonam Padmani is a Cavan-based sewing instructor, helping people turn otherwise discarded items of clothing into useful, creative alternatives. Poonam spoke to us about why creativity inspires her, how communities can learn to be more circular, and how her work could reach more people.

The Ecopeace Project is a training facility in Cavan, targeting climate action. A sewing tutor there, Poonam Padmani and her team collects old or unwanted clothes and upcycles them. They also run workshops and campaigns to raise awareness about sustainable clothing choices.

Always passionate about the environment, learning about the circular economy showed Poonam that we don’t have to treat products as disposable. "Circular activities, like upcycling clothes, allow me to combine creativity with sustainability, making a positive impact in my community," said Poonam.

"A significant problem is the growing environmental impact of fast fashion, which leads to excessive textile waste and unsustainable consumption of resources. Many clothes are discarded after minimal use, contributing to overflowing landfills and pollution. 

By promoting upcycling and sustainable fashion, Poonam’s primary aim is to reduce waste and extend the lifetime of clothes. “Upcycling transforms old or unwanted clothing into new, creative, and functional pieces, inspiring community members to adopt sustainable habits."

Poonam organises community events that see items of clothing repurposed as tote bags, pillow covers, and patchwork clothing. Drawing on her lifelong passion for sewing, Poonam guided participants through the process of upcycling materials creatively and sustainably. 

"Seeing people who had never considered reusing textiles leave with a sense of pride in their handmade items - and realising that what was once waste had become something useful and beautiful - showed me firsthand how innovative projects can inspire environmental responsibility and spark a lasting love for sustainable practices in the community."

The next 12 months look exciting. Hoping to expand her group's impact by engaging more of the community, Poonam wants to host more workshops on upcycling and “launch collaborative projects that turn waste into creative products”. 

"Ultimately, my goal is to cultivate a culture of sustainability, creativity, and environmental responsibility within the community."