“The invisible Threads of community” – an unconventional skirt
Locally Made with discontinued hanger samples
This skirt is more than a garment – it’s a reflection of people coming together, connecting over a vision, custom design, and handmade skills. Created from small discontinued samples, and cut off waste, what some might call “garbage”, this skirt embodies the power of imagination to execution.
At Rainbow, my team and I are deeply rooted in supporting local Edmonton. We are a women-owned business for 54 years, connecting the design community with local talented seamstresses. Every material we touch carries a story, connected to a local Edmontonian, and by repurposing these discarded fabrics in this skirt, we give them new life while honoring the past projects that have been woven through our space.
It is a quiet but powerful reminder that craftsmanship is not just about the end product but about the relationships it fosters. This skirt is a celebration of those ties that make up a community, each colour and pattern unique to itself, is hand sewn together, to create a bigger pattern. This symbolizes the power of individuals coming together, and the unseen stitches that make us bigger, even more powerful as a whole.
I hope while you view this skirt it reminds you of a connection to something in your own life, a quilt or a fabric of a loved one. Look deeply at the variety within each pattern. Think of a person that has left a mark on your life. My mission, as a woman in the arts, is accomplished if that brings back a memory, making visible your inner circle, which now connects me, and my team, to you and your loved ones. These are the invisible threads of community.
Vision by Kim Neeser, execution by the Team at Rainbow Draperies.
Our Skirt will be on display at the Skirtsafire Festival starting March 6th, running until March 16th. Rainbow has been a huge fan and sponsor of the festival for a decade now. Skirtsafire is a unique Edmonton festival that creates platforms for women’s voices in the arts.
Honorary Skirts – women in the arts
Honorary Skirt for 2025
Catherine Vu
Since the beginning in 2013, SkirtsAfire has had an Honorary Skirt. Each year when it is considered who should be chosen for the next Honorary Skirt, Skirtsafire looks for a woman who is well known for her work, accomplishments, and community spirit; who inspires greatness from other women. Someone passionate and connected to the community she serves. This year’s Honorary Skirt is Catherine Vu. For more info on the past Honorary skirts visit Skirtsafire.com.
The first “Skirt” in my life that I would like to honor is my Momma, Cheryl Meiklejohn. Without her unparalleled generosity, talent, and unconditional love and belief in me, I would not know how great it is to try hard, believe in miracles, and experience the world to its fullest. If I had a creative idea, without even asking “why?” Momma C would often say “Yes, you go girl”. And I have A LOT of ideas, so the bandwidth on this was large. Over a decade ago, I asked Momma C if she would sew costumes for my theatre friends, and she said yes. She barely knew the girls but she knew they were important to me and that was all she needed to justify the hours of handcrafted time and talent she donated to make these costumes.
Costumes hand sewn by Cheryl Meiklejohn
Since then my eyes have been opened up to countless women in the arts. I see talented seamstresses working with their hands every day to create custom drapery and bedding for the home, and I see women who are providing for their families through freelance business models. At the same time, these ladies are quietly curating safe and comfortable spaces for their neighbours and clients. I am grateful to be surrounded by such extraordinary women. As we approach International Women’s Day and celebrate Women’s history month, I can’t help but feel proud to be a woman. Surrounded by women. Raising young women. I honour all of you.
A trip down memory Lane
Unconventional Skirt made by Jane Kline out of hangers
The first year I participated in the unconventional skirt challenge, my mind was blown wide open by the possibility of what can be done with materials. I was overwhelmed by Jane’s ability to manipulate such a rigid material into a “textile” for a skirt. I was officially hooked on Skirtsafire and the community that it connected me to. This raised my bar instantly. I knew what could be done with a needle and thread, but now the sky is the limit, and understanding what materials you want to work with is just the beginning. If you can drive down Whyte Ave, look in the window at Gravity Pope, and see another skirt by Jane Kline made up of recycled mirrors.
A few of my creations
Skirt made of old play bills and show tickets by Kim Neeser
That first year I participated in the festival, I was inspired by the theme “In her closet,” I went to my closet and pulled out dusty boxes of old keepsakes that had been stored, untouched for years. I created petals with the grommet cutter at Rainbow (Sorry momma, probably dulled the blade that year). All the circles were made of theatre ticket stubs, playbills, and other memorabilia. Then died pink and assembled into an asymmetrical skirt, worn by my niece Shae Lanovaz.
Skirt Made of corks and seashell necklaces by Kim Neeser
One year I even reluctantly modelled my skirt! Talk about nerves, to create and model! That was next level comfort zone push for me! But I feel stronger for it. I gathered necklaces from all kinds of relationships I had made a long the way. Some came as far away as Africa, that a close friend donated from one of her trips. I love the thought of how each strand tells its own story and how connected they create a movement.
Skirt Made with drapery cardboard tubes, and ribbons by Kim Neeser
Another year I made a skirt out of drapery cardboard tubes. I cut them into 1/2″ circles and then sewed them together to create a new textile. Adorned with a box of old ribbons that had been given to me by a friend a few years earlier. She told me she “knew I would use them wisely one day”. Modelled by another niece Taylor Thiessen.
The blue patchwork skirt made by sample book quilted together with pleated sheer headers by Kim Neeser
The next year I asked that same friend who donated the ribbon, Erin, to model. I had a very difficult job go sideways because of discontinued fabrics and it caused a lot of stress. I worked through the project as I always do with determination, and in the end made this skirt out of that sample book. A make lemonade situation. It was while I cut the squares out of the book and sewed them together to create a new textile that I released my frustration and anger towards things I could not control. In the end, the client cried over the use of the discontinued fabric and we positively connected over the stress. It was truly transformative. I added some pleated sheer headings from another job to give it some extra movement. This was February of 2020. So I fondly look at this photo with great understanding that we don’t know what is just around the corner and it is truly how you handle it that matters.
Skirt made entirely of selvage edges cut off from drapery fabrics by Kim Neeser
2021 Covid changed the way theatre and events could be hosted, so the live runway show changed to a still display in a retail store front window on Whyte Ave. We adapted the competition to a challenge, bringing artists together to create and display. I am very proud of this shift I helped influence. The Skirtasfire festival always screamed community and coming together for me. Now we were coming together over the challenges and creating as a greater whole. The director Annette Loiselle and manager Breann Jang couldn’t agree more, and away we went with window displays showing off the challenge of working with unconventional materials, keeping the skirts element of the festival alive and well despite the Covid restrictions.
From creator to curator
photo by April MacKilins of me and artist Loraine Dezman admiring her skirt at Gravity Pope
In 2022, my role changed from creator to curator, where I worked with the artists that were hand selected from previous years to create 4 window takeovers on Whyte Ave. Rainbow even created some window coverings to create backdrops and a reveal on opening day!
Photo by April MacKilins of me and artist Una Momolu looking at her skirt at The Paint Spot. Props designed by Karen Bishop and Jani Galarneau
The giant red curtain created a backdrop between the front window and the store at The Paint Spot, It was all closed off until reveal day and then opened up to reveal the skirt for all to see. Got to love a good theatrical drama moment. I mean, theatre and drapery go together like “warm weather and cold ice tea” Mark Ambor.
Rainbow made Mountain curtain on curved rod to create backdrop for window display at The Quiltbag
Okay, last look at some fun creations by Rainbow Draperies, check out this mountain curtain installed on a curved rod to create a window backdrop. Ibeam was mounted into the ceiling and the drape was patchworked to create a mountain range. This drape was made entirely out of cutoff fabrics and discontinued hanger samples. Because the window had a reveal, the drape was designed to hide the skirt and was completely hidden inside, and then swooshed open to reveal the display on the day of the launch. It was such a gas to hear the oohs and awes! After the festival, the drape was gifted to The Quiltbag as a room divider, and change room!
Fini the Mini, a mini skirt used as a mascot made of finials, and cardboard inserts from Gravity Pope shoes
After taking on such a big project, four windows, four retailers, multiple artists, it was time for me to take a step back. So, the next year I designed a mini mascot using a decorative finial and the cardboard shoe inserts from Gravity Pope. She is cleverly called “Fini the Mini” and I adore her. The buckle is an old hardware sample, and the belt was made from Holt Renfrew trim. I had a client many years ago who wanted valance boxes accessorized with the signature ribbon used at the till to wrap the garments. Obviously, I held on to the role of ribbon. I won’t reveal how I got it, but I am proud of my crafty ways. If I can see your vision, I will go the mile to see it come to be.
For more info on Skirtsafire
The festival starts March 6th – 16th and hosts a variety of shows. For more info check out their website here: www.skirtsafire.com. Our skirt will be on display in the lobby of the main stage play “Dance nation” at the Gateway Theatre. Thanks for reading my post, your support is more meaningful than you can ever imagine, it’s the invisible threads of community.