RePurposing Designer Materials

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

Our volunteer organization diverts discontinued high quality designer materials from the waste stream.  Our local FabMo effort is currently redirecting at least 25 tons or 300 cubic yards per year.   These exquisite textiles are generally not available anywhere else and are well appreciated by 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.

We set up a monthly distribution (see Calendar) at the FabMo Creativity Center in Mountain View.  There is no direct charge for most items, though our continued existence depends directly on your 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.  Request an appointment that is convenient for you, and we’ll do our best to grant it. We put great emphasis on replenishing 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?

The Second annual FabMo Textile Art Boutique is planned to draw at least 800 guests, up from the 350-400 folks who attended last year, 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 and promises to be so again!  We anticipate at least 45-50 exhibitors.  Start planning now for October 23, 2010!

“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.  We began with textiles but now get wallpapers, tiles, trims, leathers, carpets, even furniture!  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 free 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.