4-H is one of Canada’s longest running youth leadership programs. Their motto is learn to do by doing.
Member Emily Sitser is learning to use her creative and sewing skills as she works on her fashion forward creation.
Emily’s sewing project is not just about fashion, it is also a tribute. After her grandfather passed away almost a year ago, Emily was inspired to take a collection of his ties and transform them into a keepsake.
“It’s such a conversation piece and that makes me think of my grandfather,” says Emily. "I always remember him as a man that loved to talk to people and he always did that with a tie on."
Now she wears his ties, now turned into a dress that wraps around her like a hug from grandpa. Each tie has a special memory and meaning attached to it.
"A lot of the ties were gifts from Holland, Europe, Germany places like that, very good quality. As I hear more stories from the people that they came from, you know, that adds to the memories," says Emily.
Emily just won first prize for something made from recycled material at the Halifax 4-H exhibition that wrapped up this weekend.
In addition, she was also able to gather enough tie donations at the fair to make another dress to auction off for charity.
"Oh, I think he would have loved it,” says Emily’s mom Lisa. “I think he would have said ‘that's my granddaughter.’ He would have been very proud of her too."
Emily’s original dress now heads to the 4-H provincial competition in Bridgewater at the end of September.
Her new creation will also be on display to help raise awareness and money for prostate cancer. She chose the charity because their symbol is a tie.
With files from CTV Atlantic's Marie Adsett
