Making Changes: Fostering Body Positivity in Menopausal Women through Fabric Design and Clothing Creation
The Pitch
Problem statement
Menopause marks a significant transition in a woman's life, often accompanied by physical, psychological, and emotional changes. Research indicates that many women experience heightened body dissatisfaction during this period, leading to negative impacts on their mental well-being and overall quality of life. Traditional approaches to addressing body image concerns often focus on dieting or exercise, which may not be suitable or effective for menopausal women.
Solution
To empower menopausal women through creative expression and skills-building. To foster a sense of body positivity and self-acceptance among menopausal women. To provide menopausal women with the tools and knowledge to create personalised clothing that celebrates their bodies. To promote community engagement and support networks among menopausal women.
Why are we best placed to deliver?
The Creative Gym CIC is lead by a post menopausal woman who has experience of poor body image, who's life changed when she learnt to make her own clothes. Live and work within the community we wish to engage with. Experience of working with participants with poor mental health. Large skill set around printmaking and dying. Able to engage professional sewing tutors.
Focus Areas
Delivery plan
Budget breakdown
| Workshop materials (fabric, dyes, sewing supplies): | £200 |
| Delivery of 4 workshops with two artists/tutors | £1,600 |
| Rent | £90 |
| Evaluation and reporting | £100 |
| Marketing | £10 |
Beneficiaries
10 people
Who will benefit
Expected impact
Enhanced Body Positivity: Actively creating garments that celebrate their bodies, women going through menopause would develop a more positive relationship with their changing bodies.Empowerment: Providing them with the skills and tools to express themselves creatively through clothing design and construction. Extending beyond the workshops, as participants gain confidence in their ability to create and adapt clothing to suit their individual needs and preferences.Community Connection: Through peer support groups and collaborative workshops, women would have the opportunity to connect with others fostering resilience and emotional well-being.Long-Term Behavioural Change: Instilling lasting changes in participants' attitudes and behaviours. Applying the principles of self-expression and self-acceptance in other areas of their lives, leading to greater overall well-being.Cultural and Societal Impact: Challenging societal norms and stereotypes surrounding menopause and women's bodies.
Track record
The Creative Gym CIC has delivered a number of Art for Wellbeing projects including two rounds of Arts Lab with Arts Well CIC for young people. One project was printmaking within an alternative education setting. The second was working with The Lighthouse Community Centre young women's groups and was a projects around the idea of pockets as a feminist issue. We have just completed a six month Art Club in a nearby village. this provided a range of new skills to the participants and has promoted new friendships and three participants have gone on to enrol with Cornwall Collage.