By Adam Evans
SPORTS merchandise is a huge fascination for many fans and for Katie Clark turning jerseys into unique creations is something she specialises in.
Clark up-cycles sports jerseys into cushions for her own business My Club Cushions.
This was something that she never anticipated falling into as a hobby, never mind turning it into a business.
And, her father, Jason Clark, is a huge influence on the existence of her company.
Katie said: “It was so random. I was working for Cardiff Blues for quite a while, and I wanted a change.
“My Dad is a sewing machine mechanic and he basically said to me if you wanted to get into anything get into sewing.
“I did as Dad said, and I was working as a sewing machinist for two and a half years, then when I was halfway through that, I started doing some work at home.
“My Dad bought me a sewing machine and I fell in love with it; I wanted to do more.
“One day my dad had the suggestion to make cushions out of jerseys, I thought nobody is going to want to buy them.
“I ignored it for a couple of months but then one day he came downstairs, and he had an old Pontypridd jersey and an old London Irish jersey.
“I made them into cushions, and I was really proud of myself. I put them onto social media to see if I would have any nibbles, and I got a message from a gentleman at Cardiff RFC.
“I couldn’t believe it was working then it all went from there.
“I have some really loyal customers. I did alot for London Welsh, and a gentleman from there ordered 25 cushions; I was gobsmacked.’
Clark’s family is sports-mad with her father being a lifelong Pontypridd rugby supporter.
Alongside this, her brother Joshua Clark has been a household name in Welsh semi-pro rugby, having played for the likes of Swansea RFC, Aberavon, Tata Steel and is now currently in his first full season with Neath.
As a result of her family having connections with several rugby clubs, Clark is fully aware of the nostalgia that some jerseys can hold for her customers.
“My Dad has always been a big Pontypridd fan, he will always be Ponty at heart, but I have been following rugby since I was about four years old,” she continued.
“I follow my brother around, who has been to a few clubs and he’s now playing for Neath.
“It has never been the case for me that I have the one club that I love but grassroots rugby is a massive thing for me.
“I think a lot people get their jerseys made up is because one, there is no room in the wardrobe, two they don’t fit them, but three it is sentimental.
“People don’t just want to throw them away, it is a massive thing for people to get jerseys and a lot of the time people say why would I want to get them up because they are expensive.
“It isn’t about cutting up a jersey, it is about the sentimental reason behind getting the jersey done.”
Clark also does her bit for the environment ensuring that there is near to no waste product of the jerseys that are used for production.
“I don’t always end up using the full jersey. I have a bag full of the excess, which will eventually come into good use.
“I have started making dog bandanas as well, so a lot of the spare materials I have I can use to make the bandanas.
“In regard to helping the environment people just don’t want to chuck stuff away.
“It is nice to up-cycle and reuse. Everything I use is up-cycled.”
