What are you up to this summer?

ReFashion Your Summer!

Did you miss the Refashion Show?

Or love it so much you need to see more?

Come see our exhibit at Bainbridge Arts and Crafts July 5-28.

A sample of our designs will be in the front window on Winslow Way! Come check them out.

Are you signed up to volunteer at Rotary yet?

Were you there the year we got not one, not two, but three of these lovely twerking cats? Are you intrigued by consumer culture or do you want to know what the hottest gift was last year? (Or 10 years ago...I'll tell you...the rainbow loom). Come join in the fun and learn about your community! You can accept donations, sort, recycle, break down cardboard boxes, marvel at thousands of coffee cups.

The volunteer shifts start Thursday, June 27 and we really need help for clean up after the sale July 6.

And while you're signing up, help out Zero Waste for the 4rth of July!

Tons of tourists and locals, parade, street food...lots of waste. Please help sort so we can enjoy the fun and aim for zero waste!

This is set up as a doodle poll-but it is just a sign up that will be the shift you take.

Do you love Refashion and want to be a part of it?

We are seeking new committee members, workshop leaders, marketing expert, development queens, brainstormers. Come join us and keep work on improving the world!

Email Naomi here.

Did you see our installation of textile waste at the ReFashion Show?

Were you wondering what to do with your textiles? I don't have all the perfect answers. We need to make and waste a lot less.

Here's what I did:

I brought home the entire pile of textiles from the show. I sorted them as follows:

Nice clothes in great condition: Children's Hospital Bargain Boutique or any other local thrift or consignment store (Second Season Thrift Store in Poulsbo is one)

Decent clothes, large quantity: A Take-Back bag from ThredUp--dropped off at FedEx with pre-paid shipping label. Normally, you pay to get one of these, but they sent me one free last time I ordered from Thred Up, an online consignment company. They resell clothes they like, and "responsibly recycle" the rest. If any money comes in, I donate back to Sustainable Bainbridge. There is a service fee.

Blankets and towels: I brought to Westsound Wildlife Shelter. They always accept those donations for animal care.

One grocery bag of scraps/torn clothes: Ridwell Box of a friend. Some of this does go to Goodwill-they claim to turn used textiles into other things.

Bras in like new condition: Just changed sizes? I posted on Buy Nothing and they got picked up quickly!

Big bag of scraps/torn fabric: I am making a dog bed stuffed with these. Anyone need a dog bed?

That was a fair amount of work, but once you know your options, you can just have sorting boxes for different locations.. and usually people won't have as much at once as I did for this experiment!

#nonewclothes

Now that's you've seen all this excess...

Have you tried the Remake #nonewclotheschallenge yet? It's a pledge to not buy new clothes for 90 days. Reset your mind and your closet! You can customize the challenge however you like...maybe you buy nothing at all, maybe you buy secondhand, maybe you only buy no shoes. The idea is to start somewhere. Check it out here.

Have a great summer!