I work at a lovely fabric shop, Ian Mankin selling fabric woven in the UK for interiors (but I also love using some of them for fashion too!)
We always have swatches and remnants left over from out of stock fabrics, one off designs that they decided not to continue and small cut offs from when we cut samples of fabric.
Yesterday I had a sort out through 2 large bags of remnants that had been kept although we could not sell them in the shop. This type of fabric waste must be produced by many other fabric shops, but what do they do with it?
I am happy to know that at the fabric shop we throw no fabric 'away', but we have lots of small scraps in store.
If anyone reading this vounteers for community sewing projects, runs a sewing class or works in a school with a textile department who are always on the look out for scraps of fabric to practice on through stitching, patchworking or quilting, etc. these small swatches are perfect and are lovely fabrics to work with.
Send me an email if you are interested as we have lots in store and are happy to see them sent to a happy home and used!
The strikes are still ongoing due to disagreements over equalising pay.
The council are willing to talk once the refuse collectors go back to work, but the workers won't work until they have sorted the dispute. It is a stalemate situation with unhygienic side effects.
Due to the lack of refuse collection, the council, universtiy and many businesses have had to hire private contractors to clear the backlog.
From BBC news:
"Rows of full up black wheely bins"
"In street after street bins stand full and black bin bags are piling up"
"In some places the piles are massive and there is increasing risk of public health"
"There is cause for concern"
This is an unusual scenario and I am intruiged as to how will this effect the attitudes of the people of Leeds towards waste.
As we never have to deal with or even see the rubbish we throw 'away', it is easier for us to live in a throw-away society. However, if the waste we throw into the black wheely bins stays within sight and mind, as currently happening Leeds, will people start to think about what parts of a product they will need to throw away before they even buy it?
Will people reduce the amount they throw away? Buy less food with excess packaging? Reuse carrier bags and containers?
Will people think about the waste they will create? And if this is a lot will they not buy it?!
If you are from Leeds please comment and share your views on the bin strikes!
Lawrence M. Barry is a large textile resale, reuse and upcycling plant.
With over 400 textile and clothing donation banks around London, LMB are a great source for Upcycling designers.
The majority of the clothing donated is sold to African second hand clothing merchants who sell on the clothing or 'mitumba' in markets.
The clothing unsuitable for resale or reuse is sold to textile downcycling and flocking companies who break down the fibres to create fabrics of lower quality.
As well as sourcing unwanted clothing, LMB also work with companies to take the old uniforms and promotional clothing that is no longer required.
The company is involved with education and design collaborations, providing source material for Upcycling designers and design students at various Universities including University of the Arts London.
A new initiative with students from the Univeristy of East London and Dr.Noki to open an Upcycling shop on Bethnal Green Road!!! AMAZING!!!
I collaborated with Zoe Fletcher who is also on my MA course to create a short film about the amazing work LMB do! Click here to be taken to You Tube
