FABSCRAP: Our Giving Tuesday Spotlight

Q: Can you talk about the work FABSCRAP does, its history and why it was started?

A: FABSCRAP is a textile recycling non-profit working to end commercial textile waste. We work with designers and brands in the fashion, interiors, and entertainment industries to take their textile waste and keep it out of landfill through recycling or reuse. We currently offer service in New York City and Philadelphia where all the material collected (about 7,000lbs per week) is sorted with the help of our large community of volunteers. FABSCRAP hosts two daily volunteer sessions at both locations to help us get through all of that material. About half of the material we collect is reusable and is made available to our community through a thrift store model- we have stores in Brooklyn, Philadelphia, and online. The other half that isn’t readily reusable is downcycled into a material called shoddy- used for various forms of insulation. Started in 2016 by founder Jessica Schrieber, FABSCRAP has saved over one million pounds of fabric from ending up in landfill.

Q: How is the organization unique in the fashion industry?

A: FABSCRAP is unique to the industry as one of the only organizations working in pre-consumer textile waste of all sizes and fibers. We take everything from the smallest production scraps to excess yardage and notions, damaged and mutilated samples and headers/swatches. With end of life solutions in both reuse and recycling, FABSCRAP is able to accept almost all of a brand's textile waste, making it a convenient and transparent recycling solution for the fashion industry.

Q: Why is the work Fabscrap does so important?

A: Founder Jessica Schrieber started FABSCRAP after working in New York City's Department of Sanitation dealing with post-consumer clothing waste. After fielding many questions from designers and brands about their waste from production and development she realized there was a lack of resources for this specific waste stream and began FABSCRAP to service those brands. Commercial textile waste has gone largely undocumented and is estimated to be 40 times the amount of post-consumer residential textile waste. FABSCRAP aims to bring more transparency and awareness to this industry problem by collecting exact data on the waste collected and sharing it both directly with the brands recycling with us and publicly through Annual Reports and educational presentations. With the data FABSCRAP collects we can provide a more accurate picture of the waste problem in fashion and inspire realistic and practical solutions to keep textiles out of landfill.

Q: Any tips for people looking to eliminate fabric/clothing waste in their lives?

A: Shop consciously! Make sure the pieces you buy and bring into your closet are pieces you will wear and care for in the future. Mending, patching, and repairing clothing is also an excellent way to extend the life of an item. 

Q: How can people get involved/donate/volunteer?

A: FABSCRAP hosts volunteer sessions at our Brooklyn and Philadelphia warehouses- come help us sort textiles for recycling and you will receive 5lbs of fabric in return! You can also shop our selection of saved-from-landfill materials at both warehouses. For anyone not in the Brooklyn or Philadelphia areas- you can shop online or donate to help support our work! 

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