FabScrap

I spent a morning volunteering at FabScrap and got to learn all about what goes on there. NYC residents throw out 200,000 tonnes of clothing, shoes, accessories and linens every year. Textiles comprise 6% of the city’s total waste stream and it was due to these crazy stats that FabScrap was founded. FabScrap collects unwanted material waste from designers, design studios and factories in NYC. FabScrap arranges collection of the unwanted materials and sorts it at their warehouse based on the material make up and size of material. The larger pieces are resold and the smaller pieces are sent to a fabric recycling plant in New Jersey that makes new thread from the fabric. I was shocked to learn that any material containing elastane (Lycra) cannot be recycled due to the fact that it damages the blades on the fabric recycling equipment. Anything that’s 100% cotton, linen or polyester can be relatively easily recycled. It’s when the fabrics are of mixed qualities that it becomes difficult to do anything with them. Unfortunately due to cost and customer needs most materials are made of mixed qualities, have a wee look on your own clothing labels and let me know what you find out 👀

3 Take Aways

• Be conscious of what your garment materials are made up of

• Recycling is the last option, reusing a garment uses less energy and manpower

• FabScrap is an amazing concept and would work so well in London to get rid of overpriced fabric stores