Hwejjigna

 

 

Ħwejjiġna /Our Stuff

Project Brief

 

 

 

European Week for Waste Reduction (EWWR) Action Proposal

 

Organiser: Siġġiewi Local Council

 

Location: Pjazza San Nikola, Siġġiewi

 

 

 

Title Concept & Cultural Play

In Maltese, the word “Ħwejjeġ” carries a double meaning:

 

1.        Clothes / Garments (the material issue at hand).

2.        Things, Affairs, or Matters (e.g., “Ħwejjeġ ta’ kuljum” or “Il-ħwejjeġ tagħna” — our affairs, our business).

Title: Ħwejjiġna /Our Stuff

 

This title prompts the community to consider fast fashion and textile pollution not as an abstract global problem, but as our shared local responsibility.

 

Executive Summary

“Ħwejjiġna /Our Stuff“ is a high-impact, two-day visual activation held in Pjazza San Nikola during the European Week for Waste Reduction (EWWR). The initiative confronts the community with the sheer volume of discarded textile waste by creating a massive public clothes pile in the heart of Siġġiewi, followed by a live collaborative transformation day where artists, designers, and residents repurpose the material into art installations and functional items.

 

Background & Rationale

Fast fashion relies on high-volume production and rapid turnover, resulting in massive textile consumption and pollution worldwide. According to EWWR principles (ewwr.eu/take-part), meaningful waste prevention requires shifting community behavior toward Material Sufficiency, Reuse, and Repair.

 

By hosting this event in Pjazza San Nikola, the Siġġiewi Local Council turns a daily domestic item (ħwejjeġ) into a civic discussion (il-ħwejjeġ tal-lokal), creating an inescapable visual statement on sustainable living.

 

Two-Day Event Structure

Day 1: Saturday

•           The Visual Installation: Residents are invited to bring old, unworn, or damaged clothes to Pjazza San Nikola and dump them into a dedicated central area. Over the course of the day, the pile grows into a towering visual representation of the community’s hidden textile consumption.

•           Community Engagement:

◦         Real-time Scale: A weigh-in station tracks the total weight (kg) of collected textiles in real time.

◦         Educational Signage: Infographics around Pjazza San Nikola detailing water usage in garment manufacturing, microplastic pollution, and synthetic fabric lifespans.

◦         Outreach: A public website where locals can see the pile growing (webcam, height/weight stats) and sign an online pledge committing to reduce fast fashion purchases and support local repair/reuse.

Day 2: Sunday

•           Artist Interventions: Local artists, sculptors, and creative practitioners work live in the square using the raw material from the pile.

•           Output & Activities:

◦         Public Installations: Sculptures and woven installations assembled directly in Pjazza San Nikola from discarded fabrics.

◦         Repurposing & Crafting: Demonstrations turning old denim and cotton into functional everyday items (tote bags, rugs, cushions).

◦         Mending & Repair Corner: Hands-on workshops teaching basic stitching, button replacement, and visible mending techniques (hajjata style).

◦         Kids’ Craft Zone: Scrap-fabric weaving and bookmark crafting for young residents.

Objectives & Target Impact

1.        Textile Diversion: Collect and divert 10,000+ kg of textile material from ordinary local waste streams.

2.        Community Awareness: Engage at least 5000+ Siġġiewi residents and visitors across the two days.

3.        Skill Development: Deliver practical repair and upcycling skills to 100+ workshop participants.

4.        Cultural Legacy: Select artist installations created during the event will be exhibited in council facilities and local public spaces.