Lake District-based business, Dirtbags, came to the Sheffield Adventure Film Festival (ShAFF) at the weekend to promote sustainability in the outdoor industry.
The company was at the film festival with a stall selling recycled outdoor products and goods, and a collection bin for visitors to give old climbing ropes away.
Jennifer Dickinson, the founder of Dirtbags, said: “We basically take old outdoor textiles like climbing rope, tents, old waterproof jackets, trousers and anything that is at the end of its life.
The company recycles materials to send back into the outdoor industry making chalk bags for climbing, kit bags, all-top dry bags, and any kind of outdoorsy bags.
“The outdoor industry has to use a lot of plastics, like nylon, in order to keep people dry and safe. We work with outdoor businesses, like Berghaus, when they have their climbing ropes, we take their offcuts, old samples, or stock they can’t sell” Mrs Dickinson said.
Mrs Dickinson originally started recrafting outdoor clothes in her bedroom before she started the company in 2017.
She said: “(I) wanted to be comfortable doing outdoor activities, so being able to use the fabric once your jacket has got so many holes you can’t use it and to provide an answer to using the fabrics up rather than throwing away.”
As well as watching films, event-goers could get a ShAFF beer, check out the stalls, attend a talk and get involved in outdoor activities.
Tom Clift, a ShAFF event-goer, said: “It’s great to get out and do something even with the cold weather and despite living in the city for so long I have never been to the festival. I am not really adventurous but this event is great for anyone even someone like me.”
The film festival’s 18th year took place from March 3rd to March 5th with films and events across Sheffield and the Peak District.
Mr Clift said the weekend was great for anyone from a complete newbie to the outdoors community to an advanced climber and hiker.
“As well as all these amazing award-winning films to get us out of the cold weather, having little stalls and events like this to keep us busy throughout the weekend is also great.”
Festival founder and director Matt Heason said on the festival’s website it is a ‘friendly festival, welcoming everyone whether you’re an outdoors enthusiast or an armchair adventurer who just loves a good story’.