RePurposing Designer Materials

It’s really true that one person’s trash is another’s treasure.

Our volunteer organization rescues discontinued high quality designer fabric samples from the waste stream.  We make them available to teachers, students, artisans and craftspeople.  There are many colors, patterns, weights and sizes (majority are a yard or less), plus trims, leathers & carpet samples.  We also frequently have wallpapers, sample books, hardware, tassels, and more.

The materials are great for all manner of projects, from creating useful things like purses, pillows, tote bags, quilts, table linens, to dolls, art projects, and much more.  Though fabrics can’t be sold as they are, projects made with them are frequently sold as part of fundraising for non-profits or to support individual initiatives.

See the companion website for variety of finished projects.

We set up an approximately monthly distribution in the Palo Alto area.  There is no charge for most items, though we strongly encourage donations to keep our effort going.  We require attendees to make appointments so we can manage the size of the gathering at any given time.  When conditions are right - neither too few nor too many at one time - the magic is wonderful, with networking, sharing of ideas, suggesting solutions to others’ sewing issues, even the fabrics themselves “talking” to our guests, suggesting projects.  We replenish stock regularly throughout the event, so those coming toward the end are still seeing fresh materials.

Especially welcome are people with projects that benefit churches, charities,schools, or other non-profits as well as those with a creative drive.  We have heard some life-changing experiences from some of our guests as a result of gathering fabrics.  Do you have a story to share?

October 24 was the date for the first annual FabMo Textile Art Exhibit & Sale which saw 350 folks who were amazed at the variety, creativity, and quality of projects made from materials that would have otherwise gone into the waste stream.  The energy and enthusiasm at Quadrus Conference Center was amazing!  It was certainly the first of many such events!

“Prayer comes from truth inside you, and you are continually at prayer when you live according to that truth.”  Emanuel Swedenborg

There are many opportunities to repurpose materials otherwise destined for the waste stream.  What discards do you see in your communities that can be repurposed?  So often it’s just a matter of asking!  Rather than having to pay someone to haul good stuff away, there are willing folks who will pick it up for repurposing.  We know it works, and there are organizations like Re-Art on the San Francisco Peninsula, Re-Create in Sacramento, and The Imagination Factory in Columbus, Indiana who are doing wonderful work. Do you know of more?  We’d love to feature them.