Bag-a-thon at Kaiti Mall

Plenty of bags will be the result of Friday's bag-a-thon.

A 24-hour bag-making event in which people will create hundreds of reusable shopping bags from off-cuts of fabric will be held at Kaiti Mall on Friday.

Called bag-a-thon in reference to the televised fundraiser Telethon that began in 1975, the aim of the Plastic Bag Free Tairawhiti (PBFT) and Kapai Kaiti collaboration is to create free reusable shopping bags for people to use instead of single-use plastic bags.

For the 24-hour project, Gisborne designer Katy Wallace will introduce a patchwork technique she calls “kamikaze”.

“It’s really fast, a bit crazy. Every time someone tries the patchwork technique it comes out different.”

“We’re looking for donations of fabric, clean, used clothes and help.”

Donations can be dropped off at Ka Pai Kaiti in Kaiti Mall or contact wearepbft@gmail.com.

The army of helpers PBFT is looking for includes people with sewing machines, scissors or willing hands for jobs like ironing, tea-making as well as people to stamp each bag with the “flag the bag” logo.

“The idea is for people to take a way a free bag and spread the plastic bag free message.”

Ms Wallace hopes the bag-a-thon will achieve 500 to 1000 bags by the end of the 24-hour sewing marathon.

Inspired by plastic-free July the designer was working on a patchwork project when she got the idea.

“I harked back to my childhood and Telethon.”

The bag-a-thon will include music, coffee supplied by Far East, bag challenges, more coffee and food.

Plastic Bag Free Tairawhiti and Kapai Kaiti’s 24-hour bag-a-thon will be held at Kaiti mall from 3pm on Friday.