The Reher Center for Immigrant Culture and History will offer an afternoon of free programming this Saturday, Aug. 20, with the theme of celebrating sustainable fashion.

The latest in a series of community events put on by the Downtown Kingston center, this event will feature workshops, hands-on activities for families, and access to the popular Sewing in Kingston exhibition. Visitors are also encouraged to bring lightly worn clothing and shoes that can be donated to Beyond The 4 Walls Outreach Program.

The day’s activities will run from 1-5 p.m. at the center at 99-101 Broadway. They include a workshop on mending well-loved clothes led by Anna Svoboda-Stel of the Germantown Laundromat; styling simple T-shirts in innovative ways led by Sydney Maresca, a professional costume designer; and working with Andrea DelCid to build our Reher community tablecloth using recycled fabrics.

The Sewing in Kingston exhibition spotlights stories from seamstresses, families, and businesses involved in Kingston’s garment industry, once a huge sector of the local economy.

“Through our Sewing in Kingston exhibition and program series, we’re proud to stitch the past to the present,” said Reher Center Executive Director Sarah Litvin. “Our sustainable fashion day is a perfect opportunity to reflect on what goes into making the clothes we wear and how we might make those clothes last longer. It’s also a good reminder to consider what we no longer wear or need — and put those items to use by sharing with others. We’re grateful to Beyond The 4 Walls Outreach Program for partnering with us to distribute the clothes collected at this event.”

This program is sponsored by the Hudson River Valley National Heritage Area. Learn more about this event and check for updates by visiting ReherCenter.org/Events.