Welcome to Better Together’s bi-weekly newsletter, where we believe that the more we work together, the greater impact. Written by Rachel Ceruti Choi, of FABSCRAP.

When you think of the systems that define modern life, do you think about textiles?

Welp, you should!

Fabric is usually framed as decorative or frivolous, something secondary to “real” technological progress (don’t even get me started on its connection to “women’s work,” too). But textiles were often the engine driving the systems that make up the modern world we know today: finance, global trade, industrial manufacturing, chemistry, even computing, just to name a few.

Today I’m covering:

Textile’s Influence on Agriculture

Plants: The cotton we know today mutated millions and millions of years ago, for an unknown reason, from an African species (most of the world’s dozens of cotton species are completely useless for making thread). Nonetheless, this mutation changed the game for early weavers and somehow ended up in Mexico.

Long story short: once humans came into the picture, they were able to cultivate longer & stronger cotton that directly influenced both the Industrial Revolution and the devastating Atlantic Slave Trade. Humanity’s domestication of cotton, and the resulting demand for textiles like denim, was an early example of [manually] Genetically Modified Organisms.

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Animals: “Over time — a very, very long time — human choices changed the nature of sheep.”
-Virginia Postrel, The Fabric of Civilization: How Textiles Made the World

(This is where I’m getting a lot of this info, btw. Check out this post for my book recs for more great reads!)

I have SO much more info I want to share.

I’m just waiting for a bit more engagement before I write a deeper dive into textiles’ influence on modern society, “women’s work,” and more.

❤️SOOOO if you enjoy reading my newsletter, you’ve told me you like my newsletter, or you’ve ever clicked a link from one of my newsletters, PLEASE like, share, or comment on this post : )

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🔗Textile Resources

• FABSCRAP’s 2025 Annual Report just dropped!

• Fellow trash nerds: Eye-opening video on Tracking NYC Trash: Using Open Data to Understand and Improve the City’s Waste System.

• Textile [EPR] legislation:

  • This is a great read for NY

  • EPR Deadlines are approaching in California

  • SB707 tracker

• Rachel-approved Met Gala fashion:

  • Zero Waste Daniel in the house!

  • SZA’s Gown was made from fabric sourced on eBay

• A design for circularity win in tech

• Take care of the things you love, amiright?

  • I AM OBSESSED with what this company is doing. Has anyone used/purchased their products?! I’m trying to figure out what I want to get first.

• Plus-Size shoppers are powering circular fashion At ThredUp

• America’s Best Cleaners and Retold Recycling are collaborating in support of the #NoLandfill movement.

👁️ Deep Dives

“GENIUS*”

I really like this idea of “in-app resale”. Klarna just released new data showing that users are increasingly using its in-app resale feature, with people reportedly making an average of $137 per sold item. The company frames this as a shift toward “circular shopping,” but it also raises an interesting question: are tools like this encouraging more conscious consumption, or just making it easier to justify buying things we don’t really need because we can always resell them later? I don’t really have a hard stance on Klarna specifically, but I do think Buy Now, Pay Later platforms can lean into overconsumption, which makes this whole thing especially interesting to me.

Learn More.

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“TRANSPARENCY”

Debrand just released their first Transparency Report breaking down what actually happens to textiles for “circularity” programs (I need to dive deeper into what they mean by “fiber reclamation” which accounts for a majority of their recycling channels~70%. Sounds like a fuzzy word that I’d like more info on). The numbers are not surprising, but I appreciate that the report is unusually honest about the limitations of textile recycling because it highlights something the textile industry doesn’t like to admit: circularity is a lot messier, limiting, and more complicated than most marketing makes it seem. There are great visuals too!

Learn More.

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“FAB 101”

Perhaps you’ve heard: I host a monthly webinar ALL ABOUT FABSCRAP. It’s truly my favorite hour of the month. The people who join are lovely (a great representation of the FABSCRAP community in general, which includes you!), we have great conversations, AND we all learn something. The webinar starts with yours truly yapping & presenting w/slides for about 30-40 minutes, then, the fun starts with a Q&A! Join us @ 12p EST (noon) on June 5th to dive deeper into the problem with pre-consumer textile waste, how FABSCRAP is solving this problem, and how anyone can get involved!

Learn More.

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Thanks for reading y’all! Hope to see you around the warehouse soon.

-Rachel

Welcome to Better Together’s bi-weekly newsletter, where we believe that the more we work together, the greater impact. Written by Rachel Ceruti, of FABSCRAP.

Textiles didn’t just “influence” history, they shaped pretty much every part of the world we know today

🗣️I will not stop yelling from whatever platform I can: History matters.

I won’t bore you with my reasons why, I do hope you have your own, but I don’t think you can talk about history without bringing up textiles. YET, lots of people do, all the time.

There are a few theories as to why textiles are left out of the history conversation.

Aka, the erasure of women and people of color’s influence on modern day systems and technologies.

Yup, textile technologies, tools, and systems were and are predominantly developed by women YET, it is now labelled as a passive hobby not worthy of the impactful credit it deserves (truly don’t get me started on this… or do. I’d LOVE to write about all the research I’ve done on craft & textiles given the extraneous label of “women’s work” so lmk in the comments if that’s of interest to you).

Until about 100 years ago, all textiles were natural materials and thus decomposed. Without the physical evidence we can’t study textiles as well as we can study, say, the pyramids or tools.

Not to leave you hanging, but I’ll be writing a deeper dive into how textiles shaped modern systems such as finance, binary code, and germ theory. Make sure to subscribe.

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🔗Textile Resources

• Leading apparel brands back unspun’s plans to build domestic manufacturing hubs in the U.S.

• New Carhartt spin-off brand, Wylie Welling, restores vintage Carhartt pieces

• Fun workshops from Slo Slo Studio:

  • Indigo dyeing workshop on Apr 25, 2026 11:00 AM - 1:00 PM

  • Visible mending workshop on May 9, 2026 11:00 AM - 1:00 PM

• Pacsun launched PS Vintage Resale Program in store

• Rising oils prices could be a good thing for recycling?!

• Great read: What Does Authoritarianism Have to Do with Fashion?

• Applications are open for Berkeley College’s 2026-2027 Fashion-Technology-in-Residence program for JUST ONE MORE WEEK!

• eBay organized a closet sale – with a goal to gain more sellers

• New study introduces a textile dye treatment system that utilizes bacterial biofilms and upcycled peach pits to efficiently neutralize toxic dyes in wastewater

• Catch FABSCRAP at Innovation Forum again this year!

👁️ Deep Dives

“TEXTILE DESIGN PRIZE”

Li Edelkoort and Philip Fimmano are pleased to announce the 12th edition of the Dorothy Waxman International Textile Design Prize, awarded to a current or recently graduated student in Textiles or Fashion who exhibits sustainable thinking and innovative creativity in textiles. The prize is part of the TALKING TEXTILES initiative that promotes textile education and creativity. The finalists will present their work online in front of a professional jury on Zoom at the beginning of September 2026. The finalists’ work will be featured on various online and social media platforms throughout September 2026.

Learn More.

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“SUSTAINABILITY MESSAGING”

Lately, there’s been a noticeable shift in how fashion brands are approaching sustainability, and not necessarily in a good way. Some companies are quietly scaling back their initiatives, while others are publicly reframing their commitments to be shorter-term or less specific. For example, Ralph Lauren recently moved away from its headline 2040 net-zero target, opting instead for rolling five-year goals positioned as more “practical” and measurable. Across the industry, progress on emissions targets is slowing, and in some cases, brands are reducing sustainability investments or downsizing the teams responsible for this work. At the same time, sustainability messaging is just becoming broader and harder to pin down, with fewer concrete deadlines and less transparency.

Learn More.

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“EARTH DAY SOCIAL”

FABSCRAP hosted an Earth Day event on Wednesday that started with a panel, then made time for tabling, networking, and delicious drinks. Here’s a snap shot! Shout out to our partners:

• Faherty (host!)

• Barrow’s Intense Ginger (drinks!)

• Sortile (panel & demo)

• Reprise Activewear (panel & demo)

• Les Ecology Center (tabling)

• Material for the Arts (tabling)

Thanks for reading y’all! Hope to see you around the warehouse soon.

-Rachel

Welcome to Better Together’s bi-weekly newsletter, where we believe that the more we work together, the greater impact. Written by Rachel Ceruti, of FABSCRAP.

Y’all - SORT-A-THON is tomorrow (Saturday 4/11) - have you grabbed your ticket yet? - so apologies for this being a shorter newsletter.

Quick answer: Join FABSCRAP’s Textile Intensive and/or Earth Day Social 🌎

to gain practical, hands-on experience and learn how to design for circularity!

Where my party people at?

If FABSCRAP knows one thing, it’s circular textiles.

So we developed an intensive course to share this knowledge with our community.

Basically, we want y’all to gain confidence with textiles, whether you’re a designer, sustainability professional, or consumer!

Textile Intensive

Starting the evening of Monday, April 20th, we’ll be diving into fibers types, weaves, knits with burn tests to identify fibers AND actual basic weaving and knitting activities.

The next evening, Tuesday, we’ll go a step further and explore the recyclability and circularity of various textiles. Decoding colloquial language versus industry terms and empowering you to make strategic decisions that improve product longevity, reduce waste, and advance circular practices!

The last evening, Wednesday, actual Earth Day, is our SOCIAL! This is included in the Textile Intensive BUT you can also purchase a ticket for just this event.

Doors open at 5:30 and the panel starts at 6.

The panel, Designing for Circularity: Sourcing, Recycling, and Resale, starts at 6! Learn from industry insiders about how they’re designing for circularity.

• Lisa Diegel, Director of Sustainability & Impact at Faherty Brand*, on translating circular principles into practice within a growing apparel company

  • *Host for this party!

• Mary Bemise, Founder of Reprise Activewear, on building a small brand with intentional material sourcing and sustainability at its core

• Constanza Gomez, Co-Founder of Sortile, on what actually happens to textiles after use and the realities of making recycling work

Then, keep the party going, with

• 🍹Delicious drinks from Barrow’s Intense Ginger Liqueur

• Tabling & shopping from

  • Material for the Arts

  • LES Ecology Center

  • Reprise Activewear

  • Sortile

Earth Day Social 4/22!

🔗Textile Resources

• Go for the sustainability, stay for the view.

Subscribe now

• Interest read on the need for new "recycled" codes for customs/global trade

• My current obsession: The New Textile-to-Textile Recycling Map

  • I personally enjoyed the bit below “Around the world in 80 shipments”

• EPR News: California Responsible Textile Recovery Act (SB 707) Implementation Tracker

• Once a Sweatshop, Now a Lab for Life: Studying Inside the Triangle Shirtwaist Site

• Has anyone tried this swapping platforms?

• TEXTILE INTENSIVE — 3-day hands-on course to build your confidence in textiles
  Whether you’re a designer, product developer, sustainability professional, or just… a person who wears clothes, this will genuinely change how you see textiles. From burn tests to identify fiber types to literally weaving and knitting—and that’s just day one—we go far beyond the typical textile course. On day two, we dig into real-world application, recyclability, and circularity principles. Honestly, you won’t find this anywhere else.

  • April 20th, 21st, & 22nd @ 6-8p

• EARTH DAY SOCIAL — where my party people at?
  We wanted to create an event for our community to celebrate FABSCRAP, Earth Day, and each other. And yes, I’m biased because I helped create this—but it’s going to be a banger. If you’re reading this, we probably agree that a “banger” party means learning something new, meeting cool people, having some food and drinks… and being home by 9. WE GOT YOU.

  • April 22nd @ 6-8p

👁️ Deep Dives

“MORE WASTE”

The World Bank’s new “What a Waste 3.0” report reveals that by 2050, global waste could surge 50%, with plastics and textiles topping the mismanaged pile. From overflowing landfills to missed recycling opportunities in low-income countries, the study highlights both the crisis and the chance to rethink how we produce, use, and dispose of materials. Dive into the full report to explore actionable solutions for a cleaner, more sustainable world.

Learn More.

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“CHILDREN”

The only touch points children have with the fashion systems is consumption (or more depressing, production). How can we expect system change when the ‘future’ is repeating the past? I’ve recently discovered Lucia Cuba’s research, Fashion Playspace, a multigenerational space where children engage with fashion critically and playfully (through material exploration, repair, sorting, reuse, garment construction, conversations about clothing’s social and environmental dimensions, among other forms). It’s a really cool website and I’m pretty sure my next, next deep dive will touch on this!

Learn More.

—

Thanks for reading y’all! Hope to see you around the warehouse soon.

-Rachel

Welcome to Better Together’s bi-weekly newsletter, where we believe that the more we work together, the greater impact. Written by Rachel Ceruti, Community Director @ FABSCRAP.

I was in Uganda, wrapping up my three years of Peace Corps service.

If you’ve ever heard me answer the classic “Tell us your sustainability journey” prompt, this is a pivotal moment in my path to sustainable textiles, I just didn’t know it at the time.

Long story short (because I have a lot to get into today): I shopped at the secondhand clothing markets that we all talk about. It was one of my favorite things to do. One time, I even found an Hermès scarf! Every Thursday, the market would come to the town nearest me, and between the fruits and veggies were piles and piles of clothes.

I remember noticing how disintegrated and poorly made many of the pieces were, confused because I recognized and shopped those brands back in the States. What I understand now is that so many clothes are made so cheaply that by the time they’re shipped around the world in search of a second life, they’re already at the end of the road. Most clothes today simply aren’t designed to last beyond a few wears.

Wow—I’m good at going off on a tangent.

Ten years ago, FABSCRAP was just getting started.

That’s right… FABSCRAP is turning 10!

We’re kicking off our 10-year anniversary with SORT-A-THON!

This year, things are a little different

⏰First, we’re sorting for 10 hours total, so spots are limited (previously, the event was 12 hours).

— That means five 2-hour sessions, starting at 9am.

💰This year, we’re adding a fundraiser!

—All sorting spots require a ticket (+ an account, if you don’t have a FABSCRAP account [just name & email). It’ll prompt you to make one to view the event), here are the two options:

Sorting + Fundraiser
$5 + a pledge to help fundraise for us!

This is a peer-to-peer fundraiser (think GoFundMe, but for FABSCRAP). It only takes a few minutes to set up your page, and we provide a full fundraising toolkit with tips, language, and guidance to help you hit your goal.
Share your fundraiser far and wide!

Sorting Only
$10 and you’re in.

If fundraising isn’t in the cards this time around, this is a great option. There are limited tickets available for this tier, since fundraising is a big focus—so grab one while you can.

Why?

If every volunteer raises even a small amount, together we can fund the diversion of thousands of pounds of textile waste.

Celebrate 10 years of FABSCRAP by helping fuel the next 10 ✨

Join Us!

🔗Textile Resources

• WATCH: How Textiles Changed the World

  • Coming soon: a deep dive series, “Women Are (& Always Have Been) Textile Technologists”

  • The research has begun!

Subscribe now

• Anyone else finding themselves becoming more and more obsessed with EPR?

• Kent State (in NYC) is putting on some cool events in April, Guided By Materiality: Creative Workshop looks really cool!

• Garden Volunteer session on Earth Day?! Yes please!

• Cool custom upcycling website

• Can’t keep up with the mergers & acquisitions of all these secondary market companies? We got you!

• FABSCRAP Earth Month events

  • You thought SORT-A-THON was all we had up our sleeve? Earth month is HUUUUUGE for us.

    • If you’ve been meaning to join a FABSCRAP event, this is the time!

• FAB 101 — Virtual presentation all about FABSCRAP + Q&A with yours truly!
  As you can tell, I’m a yapper—and I love yapping about textile waste. So whether you think you know everything about FABSCRAP or you’re just learning about us, grab a spot! I can guarantee you’ll walk away having learned at least two new things that will blow your mind. Plus, these sessions tend to turn into a really great hang during the Q&A.

  • April 2nd @ 11a (EST)

• TEXTILE INTENSIVE — 3-day hands-on course to build your confidence in textiles
  Whether you’re a designer, product developer, sustainability professional, or just… a person who wears clothes, this will genuinely change how you see textiles. From burn tests to identify fiber types to literally weaving and knitting—and that’s just day one—we go far beyond the typical textile course. On day two, we dig into real-world application, recyclability, and circularity principles. Honestly, you won’t find this anywhere else.

  • April 20th, 21st, & 22nd @ 6-8p

• EARTH DAY SOCIAL — where my party people at?
  We wanted to create an event for our community to celebrate FABSCRAP, Earth Day, and each other. And yes, I’m biased because I helped create this—but it’s going to be a banger. If you’re reading this, we probably agree that a “banger” party means learning something new, meeting cool people, having some food and drinks… and being home by 9. WE GOT YOU.

  • April 22nd @ 6-8p

👁️ Deep Dives

“EPR”

California’s bold new textile recycling law promises to tackle the fashion industry’s massive waste problem, but is it actually solving anything? Here’s the secret/surprising truth: even the most advanced recycling systems may just be managing waste, not reducing it. With shocking gaps in data and rising production still unchecked, the real environmental impact remains uncertain. Discover why this policy could either transform fashion—or quietly fail its biggest mission.

Learn More.

—

“CHILDREN”

The only touch points children have with the fashion systems is consumption (or more depressing, production). How can we expect system change when the ‘future’ is repeating the past? I’ve recently discovered Lucia Cuba’s research, Fashion Playspace, a multigenerational space where children engage with fashion critically and playfully (through material exploration, repair, sorting, reuse, garment construction, conversations about clothing’s social and environmental dimensions, among other forms). It’s a really cool website and I’m pretty sure my next, next deep dive will touch on this!

Learn More.

—

“TEXTILE RECYCLING”

Shameless plug for a post I shared last year about textile recycling. I’m a strong believer that recycling should be our last resort, despite everything you might hear. The technology, partnerships, and infrastructure just aren’t where they need to be to handle the massive amount of textile waste being generated. Give it a read if you want to learn what textile recycling actually is—and why it’s far less automated than you’d expect. In fact, it’s barely automated at all.

Learn More.

—

Thanks for reading y’all! Hope to see you around the warehouse soon.

-Rachel

I’d like to say my little hiatus from here was intentional, but truthfully, I just couldn’t find the time to write. But you KNOW I haven’t stopped reading, researching, and keeping up with it all. I’ll be restarting my newsletters next week!!

I noticed that I have lots of new subscribers!

So I wanted to reintroduce myself & couldn’t think of a better way to do so than through books.

Subscribe now

About Me, through books

Let me start with the fact that I’m always in the middle of at least two books. To me, the book and the vibe have to match, ya know? So, you’ll see: I have books I read before bed, on the subway, in the bath, for research, for book club, and I even keep one at my sister’s house.

Also, lots of you have asked for recs, so I’ve grouped them based on my (our?) interests!

A list to describe Rachel Ceruti Choi through the books she’s read since merging her business with FABSCRAP.

~*= related to textiles/fashion/sustainability

• I love reading. If we’ve ever chatted, there’s a high probability that I’ve mentioned a book I’ve recently read.

  • I’m currently reading:

    • Fin-de-siècle Vienna; Carl Emil Schorske

    • All Fours; Miranda July - About to finish!

    • ~*Empire of Cotton: A Global History; Sven Beckert

• I’m a waste nerd. In addition to FABSCRAP, I’m a member of the Manhattan Waste Advisory Board. I also just graduated from the Trash Academy!

  • ~*Inconspicuous Consumption; Tatiana Schlossberg

  • ~*Can I Recycle This?; Jennie Romer

  • ~*Consumed: The Need for Collective Change: Colonialism, Climate Change, and Consumerism; Aja Barber

  • ~*Make Do and Mend: Keeping Family and Home Afloat on War Rations

  • The Overstory; Richard Powers

    • If only the second half of the book was as good as the first

• I have a passion for understanding textiles.

  • ~*The Fabric of Civilization: How Textiles Made the World; Virginia Postrel

  • ~*The Fashion System; Roland Barthes

    • very hard to read but so interesting

  • ~*Mend! A Refashioning Manual and Manifesto; Kate Sekules

  • ~*Circular Fashion: Making the Fashion Industry Sustainable; Peggy Blum

  • Crafted with Pride: A Directory of Made in USA Gear

  • ~*To Dye For: How Toxic Fashion Is Making Us Sick--and How We Can Fight Back; Alden Wicker

• Everything I do connects back to women[’s empowerment].

  • ~*Women’s Work: The First 20,000 Years Women, Cloth, and Society in Early Times; Elizabeth Wayland Barber

  • Feminism for The 99%; Cinzia Arruzza, Nancy Fraser, and Tithi Bhattacharya

  • Parable of the Sower; Octavia E. Butler

  • I Survived Capitalism and All I Got Was This Lousy T-Shirt: Everything I Wish I Never Had to Learn About Money; Madeline Pendleton

  • Little Weirds; Jenny Slate

  • Good Inside: A Guide to Becoming the Parent You Want to Be; Becky Kennedy

    • Take some of this with a grain of salt, but I actually read this with my partner

  • Visual Intelligence: Sharpen Your Perception, Change Your Life; Amy E. Herman

  • ~*How to Make Herself Agreeable to Everyone: A Memoir; Cameron Russell

    • A few months after I finished it, I got to work with her, pretty cool!

  • ~*Wildflower A Memoir; Aurora James

• I LOVE memoirs, especially from funny women.

  • Girl Walks into a Bar; Rachel Dratch

  • Hello, Molly; Molly Shannon

• I enjoy the connection between culture & economic development (some would call this history).

  • Careless People: A Cautionary Tale of Power, Greed, and Lost Idealism; Sarah Wynn-Williams

  • Animal Farm; George Orwell

  • Nineteen Eighty-Four; George Orwell

    • I know this is fiction, but it’s not far off

  • There’s Nothing Like This: The Strategic Genius of Taylor Swift; Kevin Evers

    • Even though I’m not a fan of Taylor Swift’s music, this book is a must read

  • Braiding Sweetgrass; Robin Wall Kimmerer

  • Seven days in the art world; Sarah Thornton

    • I want to write a book like this, but with textiles - think people would read it?

These are books I’ve read previous to my time @ FABSCRAP that I’d highly recommend

• ~*Stitched Up: The Anti-capitalist Book of Fashion; Tansy Hoskins

• You’ll Grow Out of It; Jessi Klein

• ~*Fashionopolis: The Price of Fast Fashion and the Future of Clothes; Dana Thomas

• ~*Deluxe: How Luxury Lost Its Luster; Dana Thomas

  • I LOOOOOOVE THIS BOOK

• Prisoners of Geography: Ten Maps That Tell You Everything You Need to Know About Global Politics; Tim Marshall

  • Everybody should read this book, no matter what their interests are!

• ~*The End of Fashion: How Marketing Changed the Clothing Game Forever; Teri Agins

• ~*Black Girls Sew: Projects and Patterns to Stitch and Make Your Own; Hekima Hapa and Lesley Ware

I’m SUUUURE I forgot some (this is all from memory and my own bookshelves, but I lend out books all the time so who knows what I forgot I read!)

Please suggest more in the comments, I’m excited to see what we’re all reading : )

I didn’t link any because here’s what I recommend you do:

1. Save this post (and/or screenshot it)

2. When you’re thrifting—I know you will be—look for these books. You’ll be surprised by what you can find.

3. Check your local library

   1. (I’m an annotator, so this doesn’t really work for me, but it’s a great resource, OBVI!)

4. Copy/paste a title you’re interested in into your preferred search engine and add “used” to the end. Boom!

5. Host a book swap / ask friends what they have

6. Check out local bookstores before resorting to larger chains

   1. I like to shop on ThriftBooks, and I’m lucky to have Strand Bookstore in my city.

Listen in to learn more about FABSCRAP from FABSCRAP Co-Founder & Interim CEO, Camille Tagle & Community Director, Rachel Ceruti Choi.

Feeling inspired to Give?

Donate to FABSCRAP!

Make sure to subscribe so all thing FAB go right to your inbox!

Subscribe now

See ya’ll around the warehouse soon,

Rachel

Read more

Make sure to subscribe so these can go straight to your email! Would also suggest browsing our library of newsletters, event recaps, and more : )

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Last year, FABSCRAP took a major step toward growing our impact by bringing our entire community together on one platform.

The fancy term for this is “Customer Relationship Manager” aka a ‘CRM’. A common CRM is Salesforce, but you don’t have to know that.

Whether you know if or not, you’re proably using a CRM daily (either as a customer or as a business). CRMs are a digital, centralized address book and diary for a business that stores every detail about interactions with customers.

At FABSCRAP we have LOTS of “customers”:

• Volunteers

• Donors

• Clients

• Event Attendees

• Groups

& more often than not, our customers are more than 1 of the bulletse above.

Please leave comments, questions, etc. below:

1. If you have a question, chances are that someone else does too

2. This will help us @ FABSCRAP develop more helpful material for our community : )

Listen into our webinar series, “How FABSCRAP Works” as virtually open the doors to our warehouse, clear up common misconceptions, and welcome you into the living, growing ecosystem of our work — from intake to impact!

In this session, we dive into the hidden world of fabric headers, highlighting our Smarter Swatches research and industry guide. What they are, why so many are produced, and where they end up (hint hint: landfill before FABSCRAP exsisted). Join us as we explore the environmental impact of pre-consumer textile waste and the real challenges headers create for sustainability.

Featuring insights from FAB Team member Jo Corvus, this webinar helps our community looks forward toward impactful change— introducing practical strategies for reducing waste through smarter design, better distribution, and more responsible material choices. Join for tools, ideas, and immediate actions you can take to move toward more circular textile future.

Join another [virtual] event!

Read more

In case you missed it…

We announced 4 new events for 2026!

• TEXTILE INTENSIVE: Jan 13 - 14

• WAREHOUSE TOUR + SORTING: Jan 19

• YAP & SORT: Jan 19

• WEBINAR: Jan 30th

Scroll down to learn more, because today I’m excited to share…

Our next virtual shopping event is Jan 9th!

GRAB YOUR SPOT

We’ve been gathering the very best of the best fabrics, yarn, samples, leathers, & more for you to shop from the comfort of your own home!

There are a few ~Early Bird~ tickets available, grab them quickly for a great deal! Otherwise, it’s pay-what-you-can to directly support programming like this!

Subscribe now

Learn more about our upcoming reoccurring events

TEXTILE INTENSIVE

*I’m REALLY excited for this*

FABSCRAP put together a 2-day intensive hands-on course to help the everyday person better understand the fabric we live in.

Limited Spots Available

I’ve said this for a while, the only way to a “sustainable wardrobe” is by knowing your fabric. This includes, but is not limited to, knowing how fabrics are made - fiber type (i.e. natural or synthetic) & weave type (plain twill or knitted) - what happens at their end of life, and better understanding the monster that is the textile industry.

Join us to learn hands-on skills and current industry knowledge to improve your confidence in textile identification. Our goal is to help people who wear clothes make informed, environmentally responsible decisions, while evaluating recyclability, durability, and performance to support circular systems.

YAP & SORT

Exactly what it sounds like. Every month, we’ll bring in a community leader for a casual conversation while we sort through textile waste for reuse and recycling. In January, we’re excited to dive deeper into Black Girls Sew w/founder Hekima Hapa!

A long time supporter of FABSCRAP, Hekima is the definition of a community leader! I personally can’t wait to chat with her, then listen to the audiences’ (you!) Q&A.

Limited spots available.

Join Us!

WEBINARS

Learn more about FABSCRAP, from our community! Each month we’ll virtually chat with a community member about various aspects of FABSCRAP. In January, we’re discussing headers!

Fabric headers comprise an estimated 75% of the pre-consumer textile waste received by FABSCRAP. We’ll be diving into what they are, why there are so many, and what does FABSCRAP do with them w/ Geoffrey Gertz (Interim Co-Dean | School of Fashion @ Parsons).

Join us for the hour to learn and ask your questions!

Join Us!

Thanks, as always, for your support! Leave a comment with the community leaders and/or topics you’d want us to cover in future events : )

-Rachel

Shop FAB Merch!

Yes, FABSCRAP has THE CUTEST merch!

Great for gifting or to keep for yourself. Our zip-up hoodies are made of recycled material & feature a patch (of your choosing) made with FABSCRAP fabric, of course!.

100% cotton & Unisex fit

Shop Now!

Join Us!

Subscribe now

Shout out to the amazing Reuse Volunteers models : )

One volunteer, Lisett, recently had her first solo show showcasing a lot of FABSCRAP material. Check out what else she’s has going on!

A new product, sale, event, & more for the next 12 days!

& you have full access to all links and info as a thank you for subscribing! Just scroll down 👇

🎁

Day 1: Holiday Gift Wrap Kit w/Scrap Fabric

Check It Out!

Have you seen the holiday section of FABSCRAP’s online store yet? I’m biased, but there’s some really cool stuff on there. Truly a gift for anyone on your list AND the sustainable gift wrap to wrap it in : )

My suggestions:

1. For The Upcycler

2. For the Zero-Waste Fanatic

3. For your friend Excited for NYE

4. For the Wicked-obsessed

5. For the Kiddos

12 Days of FABSCRAP: RIGHT NOW!

🎁

Day 1: Holiday Gift Wrap Kit w/Scrap Fabric

Reusable & Chic

🤝

Day 2: Giving Tuesday Activities

1. AMA (Ask Me Anything) w/ FABSCRAP’s Camille Tagle & Rachel Ceruti

   1. Instagram Live | Dec 2., 12p EST

      On IG Live

2. Reusable Holiday Gift Wrap Workshop

   1. @ Loulette Bride | Dec 2., 6-8pm

      + Drinks : )

3. DONATE

4. VOLUNTEER

👕

Day 3: Merch Sale

Yes, FABSCRAP has merch & we dropped the price this holiday season! Available in-person & online while supplies last!

🧑‍🏫

Day 4: Introducing: TEXTILE INTENSIVE

Join our 2-day Intensive Course to

• Improve confidence in textiles identification, characteristics, & recyclability

• Develop hands-on skills in fabric construction

• Gain current industry knowledge

Basically - level up your textile knowledge as a designer and shopper!

Limited Spots Available

🛍️

Day 5: Gift Card Sale

Buy 1, get 1 50% off - need I say more? Start browsing.

🖥️

Day 6: Introducing: WEBINARS

Monthly webinars to learn all about FABSCRAP, from our community.

Headers: Headache for Sustainability

💬

Day 7: Introducing: YAP & SORT

January 19th - Exactly what it sounds like: we yap, led by a FAB partner, while we sort!

*LINK TO REGISTER COMING DECEMBER 7th!

📰

Day 8: Subscribed to our Newsletter

If you haven’t already…

Subscribe now

💃

Day 9: Sample Sale

we’re offering 25% off samples, all week long/while supplies last, in-store & online! A mix of perfect and mutilated sample garments from the hundreds of brands we work with. Learn more.

💳

Day 10: Virtual Shopping

Sign-up for our first virtual shopping event of 2026! FABSCRAP will be guiding you through a lovely shopping experience from the comfort of your own home (or office, we won’t tell!) of our never-before-seen and best-of-the-best products! You won’t want to miss.

*LINK TO REGISTER COMING DECEMBER 10th!

🥳

Day 11: Makers Show & Tell Holiday Party!

Show off your crafts with other crafters while we celebrate with custom cocktails (& mocktails) @ Barrow’s Intense NY Tasting Room in Industry City! You DON’T want to miss this!

Join Us!

🪧

Day 12: ALL January Volunteer Sessions Posted!

Grab your spot, while you still can, to brave the NYC winter with FABSCRAP : )

I’m sure I don’t have to remind you, BUT we gift EVERY volunteer with 5lbs of free fabric as a thank you for your time : )

Learn More.

Well, there you go! All 12 days of FABSCRAP, right at your finger tips.

Make sure to take a peak at each email coming in for the next few days to learn more and sign up, shop, register, etc.!

Thanks always for your support, and for sharing this with friends and family : )

-Rachel

Welcome to Better Together’s bi-weekly newsletter, where we believe that the more we work together, the greater impact. Written by Rachel Ceruti, Director of Community @ FABSCRAP.

Welp, the holiday season is here

& I just didn’t have the time to put together a full newsletter this week; so slightly shorter. WARNING: TYPOS ANTICIPATED, I APOLOGIZE IN ADVANCE.

What am I busy with, you ask?

Welp, last night, we celebrated Mends-Giving <3

We also have a BIG Small Business Saturday November 29th!

25% off everything! In-store & Online (through Dec. 1), you don’t want to miss it!

I’m putting together “12 Days of FABSCRAP”

Starts Dec 1st!

I’m really excited for this! I’ll be sharing something new, each day, right here on Substack (so make sure you’re subscribed). *hints: found here*!

🔗Textile Resources

• Zero Waste NYC Holiday Night Market

• You heard it here first: FABSCRAP is putting together a 2-day Textile Intensive January 13 & 14.

  • Here’s a glimpse at what we’ll be covering.

• Everlane + denim repairs = complimentary service for a limited time in its New York store.

• Report featured case studies on resale operations - highlighted the common pain points for different players.

  • Not news but more info on Resale from Forbes.

    • Another report.

    • Lol, another report, but this one is fun and more human!

• For me, this smells a little bit like greenwashing, but I also get why they’d do it.

• For my fellow waste nerds.

• Registering a “DUPE” Trademark?!

• Ellen MacArthur Foundation releases 2030 Plastics Agenda for Business

• Website to support California’s textile EPR law, yes please!

• Nike making another investment in the circular economy.

• Just a generally good resources if you like this newsletter.

• Great question: Can Creative Stunts Make Consumers Care About Textile Pollution?

👁️ Deep Dives

“HUMAN HANDS”

I made this table to highlight the amount of human involvement (aka the little automation) that goes into textile recycling. I’m pretty proud of it, check it out!

—

Thanks for reading : ) Hope to see you around the warehouse or at an event soon,

Rachel

Here are all FABSCRAP events through the end of the year

More details below!

• MENDS-GIVING- November 20th | 6-8p | Williamsburg

• FABSCRAP 101 - November 28th | 12-1p EST | Zoom

• HOLIDAY GIFTWRAP WORKSHOP - December 2nd | 6-8p | Greenpoint

• WAREHOUSE TOUR & EVENING SORTING SESSION + HAPPY HOUR - December 4th | 5-8p | FABSCRAP Warehouse

• MAKERS SHOW & TELL HOLIDAY PARTY -December 11th | 6-9p | 86 34th St, Industry City

MENDS-GIVING

November 20th | 6-8p | Williamsburg

Join FABSCRAP’s Craft Night, @ Seven Wonders Collective, for a fun, supportive, and collaborative space to tackle your projects! While there’s no formal instruction, community crafters will be on hand to offer guidance and encouragement.

FABSCRAP 101

November 28th | 12-1p EST | Zoom

Join our lunch-time virtual dive into how FABSCRAP is eliminating pre-consumer textile waste: what it is, how it impacts both people and the planet, and ways we all can get involved!

Subscribe now

HOLIDAY GIFTWRAP WORKSHOP

w/ Scrap Fabric

December 2nd | 6-8p | Greenpoint

Join us @ Loulette Bride for a fun workshop to create your very own reusable gift wrap using our incredibly gorgeous scrap fabric, ribbons, sparkles, and more! Come sip, win raffle prizes, sew, and mingle!

WAREHOUSE TOUR & EVENING SORTING SESSION + HAPPY HOUR

December 4th | 5-8p | FABSCRAP Warehouse

Get a rare behind-the-scenes look at FABSCRAP with NYSAR3 & True then enjoy mocktails and mocktails while you sort textile waste for reuse & recycling! Participants must be 21+ to attend.

MAKERS SHOW & TELL HOLIDAY PARTY

December 11th | 6-9p | 86 34th St, Industry City

Show off your crafts @ Barrow’s Intense NY Tasting Room, for our Makers Show & Tell. PLUS enjoy specialty cocktails to celebrate the holidays and YOU, our amazing community : )

See you at the warehouse, on Zoom, and/or around NYC,

Rachel

Welcome to Better Together’s bi-weekly newsletter, where we believe that the more we work together, the greater impact. Written by Rachel Ceruti, Director of Community @ FABSCRAP.

Human Hands

Yup—every recycled textile passes through human hands. There’s currently no scalable technology that can produce recycled textiles without human involvement.

Volunteer YOUR Hands @ FABSCRAP

I made this handy chart based on my acquired knowledge of textile recycling and research (sources below).

Since merging with FABSCRAP over a year ago, I’ve made it a point to better understand textile recycling—not just because I work at a textile recycler, but because I’m a textile consumer.

I’m VERY skeptical of opaque processes, and textile recycling is the ultimate example!

Now, I know that a lot of the emerging technologies, business models, partnerships, etc., in this industry are proprietary for a reason. I also know that the average consumer knows NOTHING about textile recycling. In fact, I’ll double down: the average consumer knows almost nothing about how any type of material is recycled.

Why are we left in the dark?
I have a few theories:

• Anything related to fashion or textiles is often seen as frivolous.

• Most people don’t really know how fibers or fabrics are made from virgin materials—so who can blame them for not knowing how recycled fibers are made?

• If people actually knew the time, money, energy, and chemical sludge involved in textile recycling, the industry would also have to confront the same reality with virgin materials. For example: garment workers spend enormous time and effort making our clothes, yet 1 in 6 earns a livable wage AND Much of the chemicals [sludge] from dyeing and finishing is unregulated.

I could go on—and maybe I will—but for your sake, let’s leave it here.

Coincidentally, I’ve included LOTS of textile recycling links in the resource and deep-dive sections below. Check them out, share your thoughts, questions, or ideas.

Most importantly—tell me what I got wrong in the comments. This industry is SO opaque that I’m not as confident in my chart nor knowledge as I’d like to be!

🔗Textile Resources

• A few emerging textile recycling related companies I love to follow are Sortile, Refiberd, & Wearable Collections.

• Damn, I missed International Repair Day - let’s get something going next year!

• NFL player Deandre Hopkins showed up to a game in a fit from Goodwill.

• Resale may be fueling, not fixing, overconsumption.

• Clothes made from Seaweed?!

• GANNI x Vestiaire Collective - Lots of these partnerships have been popping up and I only see this trend increasing.

  • Vestiaire Collective also has partnerships with Burberry and Chloé.

    • i.e. ThredUp currently powers resale for J.Crew, Athleta, Gap, and Tommy Hilfiger.

    • More on emerging resale strategies, especially for luxury brands in the deep dive below.

• Just learned about the Croissant resale extension, anybody use it?

• Microfiber release during apparel manufacturing process – greater concern than laundering

• Calvin Klein launches Re-Calvin take-back program in the States.

• New research from the University of Maine has discovered a method to make textiles water and stain resistant using fungus.

• H&M funds the German leader of automated textile sorting.

  • They’re also collaborating with Circ.

• SO obsessed with this new research about the challenges (& they claim opprotunities, but idk about that) of trim for textile recycling.

  • Great visuals and better glimpse into textile recycling!

👁️ Deep Dives

“SNAP”

1.7 million New Yorkers are expected to lose access to SNAP benefits—their primary source of food assistance. In an urgent video message, Rethink Food Founder & ceo, Matt Jozwiak, explains what this means for our city and how Rethink Food is responding by doubling or tripling their meal production across key communities.

Every dollar counts right now. 100% of donations will go directly toward meals—no overhead, no admin costs.

HERE’S HOW YOU CAN HELP:

👉 Donate to support emergency meals

👉 Watch and share this video

Together, we can make sure no one is left without food.

—

“100% RECYCLED”

Interesting glimpse into the process of transitioning to recycled materials. Reformation launched a 100% recycled sweater collection. The brand started a few years ago with a blend of 70% recycled cashmere, and eventually increased this to 95% recycled cashmere. Now the sweaters in this collection consist of 95% recycled cashmere and 5% recycled wool; claiming carbon emissions reduction of 96% and cutting water usage by 89%. This, of course, piqued my interest to learn about how wool is recycled.

Learn More.

—

“LUXURY RESALE”

It’s not news that tariffs are pushing even more people, but mostly brands to resale. This article dissects the pre-owned luxury market, which is growing about 3x faster than first-hand. These two markets are no longer complementing but competing. From arguing over non-original parts and spa treatments, luxury brands are split on strategy. Not to mention, various products yield different resale problems. Chanel, for one, is using litigation to set rules, while Hermès primary concern is the flipping of brand-new bags. Personally, I like Rolex’s strategy of building trust and maintaining their brand. Also, I LOVE the “what comes next” section of this article.

Learn More.

—

Thanks for raeding ya’ll! Hope to see you around the warehouse soon.

-Rachel

Sources:

• A Brief Review of Mechanical Recycling of Textile Waste

• Chemical recycling of mixed textile waste

• Textile Waste Recycling: Weaving a Sustainable Future

• What Is Textile Chemical Recycling?

• Possibility Routes for Textile Recycling Technology

• Fiber-to-Fiber Textile Recycling

• Transforming textiles

Welcome to Better Together’s bi-weekly newsletter, where we believe that the more we work together, the greater impact. Written by Rachel Ceruti, Director of Community @ FABSCRAP.

Don’t get mad at me, I don’t make the trends.

The nature of my job and passion puts me in rooms with decision-makers that shape our world. This is both exciting because I’m always trying to get textiles on the agenda, and defeating, because nobody seems to care about sustainability anymore.

Sure, you could argue that the word sustainability has lost its meaning — that people are still doing sustainable things, they’re just not labeling them that way or they’re calling them something else.

Personally, I consciously moved away from “sustainable fashion” and adopted “circular fashion” back in 2022. I felt (and still feel) that sustainable is passive, whereas circular implies action and community. I always use this example: I can’t take the action of selling/swapping my clothes that I no longer wear to someone else without community. It’s really that simple.

We can no longer ignore that fewer and fewer people making decisions that shape our world give a sh*t about sustainability.

To me, that’s a rallying cry for us — the sustainability champions — to think differently. Not harder. Smarter.

I get it. I’m tired too. Tired from yelling as loud as I can about sustainable practices and doing everything I can to get people to care. But over this past year, as I’ve noticed this apathy growing, I’ve decided I’m going to work with the people who want to work with me.

Share

Instead of using my energy to convert or convince, I’m going to use it to consistently model how I, and others, do sustainability. Because if and when someone decides they want to explore sustainable practices, they’ll know I’ve been here all along. Steady. Consistent. No judgment, no shame, no expectations. Just doing the work and sharing my resources openly.

The approach to “sustainable fashion” over the past few years hasn’t gotten us very far.

In fact, it’s made consumers more confused, myself included. We’ve been asking the wrong questions. Sustainability, in its current form, often starts at the end, with questions like, “What’s the most sustainable store to shop at?” What a backward way to approach this, right?

Since my Reclypt days, I’ve been starting from the beginning, with questions like, “How is a shirt made?”

As a first step in solidarity with you all, I’ll be announcing new programming very soon! I’m still working on the details, but at a high level, I’m creating an intensive workshop (longer than one session for investment and depth) that dives deep into fibers, fabrics, and the history and development of textiles; all to help you understand how to build the most sustainable wardrobe for you.

Not the person next to you on the train, not your friend, not the influencer — you.

The goal is to share the resources and network I’ve built over the years so you have all the information you need to make the decisions that are best for you, thus our larger community.

Make sure to subsribe to be the first to know about the new programming : )

Subscribe now

🔗Textile Resources

• Spooky Scraps: I know some of you are obsessed with Halloween. Check out what FABSCRAP has to offer!

• Where Does NYC Garbage Go?

• All-Gender Clothing Swap @ Come Forever, Saturday 10/18 from 3-6pm

• Swan Fabrics is closing -- they are selling off their inventory (mostly European luxury fabrics and French lace) and looking for bulk buyers. Contact swanfabric@yahoo.com

• Why does this blurb about an EU circular fashion coalition have an image of NYC? [more Vogue disdain]

• More eBay love: eBay and Global Fashion Agenda Forge Strategic Partnership to Advance Circular Fashion

• Exploding Textile Art in London

• Attention textile nerds: Nearly 4,000 fragments from Asia, the Middle East, Africa, Europe, Oceania and the Americas offer insights into human creativity from antiquity to the present.

• How US tariffs are unraveling India’s textile industry

• GREAT read and graphics about global textile waste!

👁️ Deep Dives

“MIXED PAPER RECYCLING”

If you’ve volunteered at FABSCRAP you know paper is a big part of the textile waste we receive. I’m always excited to share that we have a local recycling stream for all that cardboard, paper, construction paper, etc., Our Mixed Paper Recycling is sent to Staten Island and made into corrugated cardboard, which is great because that means it can take on a little bit of fabric, which is often attached to the paper! I was glad to see others taking paper into consideration when dealing with fiber recycling. Read or listen to learn about The ReMA Future of Fiber Forum on Jan. 27, 2026. Check out the tentative agenda for this virtual half-day event and/or apply to get involved!

Learn More.

—

“HALLOWEEN”

CELEBRATE SPOOKY SEASON w/FABSCRAP!

Show off your costumes, dress up, and meet other makers during FABSCRAP’s Spirit Week! We love a reason to dress up, join us at the warehouse to sort and/or shop!

Grab your spot now! ←- You’ll need to create an account to join : )

—

“NOT PRETTY”

In Panipat, India, the world’s textile castoffs, mostly from the U.S. and Europee, are reborn as recycled yarn and blankets, sounds great, right? Helping to fuel the fashion industry’s favorite buzzword: “circular.” But not so much. Behind the glossy sustainability narrative is another truth — one where workers breathe toxic dust, rivers run black with dye, and families pay the price for the West’s waste. This Atmos piece exposes the hidden cost of America’s so-called sustainable fashion loop — and it’s not pretty.

Learn More.

Thanks for raeding ya’ll! Hope to see you around the warehouse soon.

-Rachel

TL;DR: Want to see FABSCRAP grow? Join and/or share our Silent Auction this weekend!

Join the fun!

FABSCRAP’S Digital Silent Auction Starts Friday, 10/10!

Bid on one-of-a-kind experiences, vintage gems, and sustainable crafts — all supporting our mission to reduce textile waste and fuel creative reuse.

👉 Ready to join in?
Here’s how to get started:

1. Click here to register

2. Select “Register for Auction” in the top right corner

3. Create your bidder profile and start browsing!

If you’re reading this you know all about FABSCRAP.

I don’t have to tell you that all silent auction bids, donations, fabric sales, and more directly contribute to:

• Expand textile reuse and recycling programs

• Support makers and students with rescued materials

• Reduce landfill waste and carbon emissions

• Spark sustainable change across fashion + design

Join our Silent Auction

Can’t bid this time?

Please share the auction with friends who love a good find for a good cause.

Share

Questions or need support? Email fundraise@fabscrap.org.

Thanks for everyone who has or is about to sign up, it means a lot! These events we put together takes a lot of time and energy, but it’s all to help FABSCRAP, and our mission, grow : ) Hope you’ll join us.

-Rachel

Welcome to Better Together’s bi-weekly newsletter, where we believe that the more we work together, the greater impact. Written by Rachel Ceruti, Director of Community @ FABSCRAP.

I know we’re all sick of climate week so I’m going to make this brief.

Through a series of yes/no statements I’ll be debunking a few questions I’m commonly asked. Enjoy!

Yes, during a Q&A section of a presentation I was asked to clear up a rumor.

No, it was not as juicy as you think (sorry Bravo fans). The person asked if it is true that our recycled fabric is made into insulation.

Yes, our recycled fabric is made into Shoddy which can be used for insulation. It’s also used in moving blankets, the automotive industry for vehicle door padding & insulation, to stuff pet beds, and much more. Technically, this is called downcycling.

No, we do not shred the fabric ourselves. We send it to our partner in South Carolina, then they sell the Shoddy to their various clients.

Yes, every piece of textile that is either chemically or mechanically recycled HAS to pass through human hands. Currently there is no scalable machine/technology for sorting textiles. I’m happy to elaborate on emerging technologies, but it’s important to know that textile recycling REQUIRES human hands!

No, you don’t need previous experience or knowledge of any kind to sort textiles at FABSCRAP. At the beginning of each volunteer session we give you the run down and are available the entire session for any questions you may have!

Yes, you can come sort with us as many times as you like! We have 3 hour sessions Tuesday - Saturday at 9a and 1p + as a thank you, we gift you with 5lbs of free fabric each time you volunteer! Volunteers must create an account to volunteer. This helps both you and FABSCRAP manage our HUGE volunteer communitys’ interactions with us!

Subscribe now

No, leathers, hides, yarn cones, and shoddy aren’t included in those free weight, but volunteers do get 30% off all purchases!

Yes, FABSCRAP is a non-profit so if you cannot volunteer, donations are much appreciated!

Why yes, we do have a big fundraiser coming up for you to support.

Digital Silent Auction | Oct. 10-12th

Take a sneak peak at some of this year’s auction items (more added daily!) - from one-of-a-kind experiences to vintage treasures and sustainable crafts, there’s something FAB for everyone.

Register Now!

🔗Textile Resources

• If you haven’t heard me rant and rave about FABSCRAP’s Smarter Swatches research & Scorecard, where have you been?

• Ewwwww - The Canvas hosted a Cuomo Campaign Party.

• I’m DROOLING over this Embroidery Series that Tatter is putting on.

• Love the message, but this graph and deck is confusing, no?

• UPCYCLERS: Sandra Rothenberg (RIT) is looking to interview upcyclers at various stages of business development. Here’s here info to get in touch!

• From A.C.T.: Organizations including fashion brands, textile innovators, recyclers, and more now recognize that engagement with policymakers is not optional. That’s because policies related to global trade, waste regulation, and manufacturing are no longer theoretical—they’re being rolled out in real time.

• The future of fashion’s climate impact isn’t only decided in New York, it’s built in places like North Carolina.

• I’m still skeptical of companies leaning on AI, but here are a few examples. Let me know your thoughts, am I just a hater?

  • WATCH: How ThredUp Resells 17 Million Garments Every Year

  • Do we really need textile waste visualizations or can the money (& energy) being used to make this AR be used to make actual change?

• Learn more about Oxfam’s Secondhand September

  • I also spoke on a panel with Sofia from Threading Change (disclaimer, I’m on their board) for their first NYC event!

👁️ Deep Dives

“FASHION CARBON CREDITS”

Vestiaire Collective started a Carbon Credit scheme. Yes, the secondhand fashion platform, just rolled out a bold new idea: turning the carbon savings from buying pre-loved clothes into tradable “carbon credits.” LOL what? Every time you choose a used jacket over a brand-new one, you’re avoiding pollution—and now Vestiaire wants to measure that impact, sell it, and potentially reinvest the profits back into perks for shoppers like discounts or rewards. It’s a move that could elevate resale from a feel-good choice to a financial force in the fight against climate change. But is this a groundbreaking way to make sustainability pay, or just another case of greenwashing? Dive into the full article to see both sides—then share your thoughts, I’m curious what ya’ll think!

I do agree with this statement from the article though: “The circular economic model will not win until we have a true financial incentive,” said Dounia Wone, Vestiaire’s chief impact officer. “That’s why we’re monetising the circular economy with these carbon credits… It’s about shifting the mindset of people who finance the world to look at circularity differently and take it seriously.“

Learn More.

—

“SILENT AUCTION”

It’s that time of year to get ahead of holiday shopping. AKA, bid in FASBCRAP’s annual Silent Auction! Whether you’re a thrifter, creative, or sustainability supporter, there’s something FAB for you — and every bid supports our mission to reduce textile waste and fuel creative reuse. Your bids fuel FABSCRAP’s next chapter: expanding creative reuse and reducing waste.

Every bid helps us:

✅ Expand reuse programs - including convenient pick up of unwanted textiles

✅ Support more makers + students with access to affordable rescued fabric & education

✅ Reduce carbon emissions + landfill use

✅ Inspire sustainable change across fashion + design

Questions or need support? Email: fundraise@fabscrap.org

Register Now!

—

Thanks for raeding ya’ll! Hope to see you around the warehouse soon.

-Rachel

Welcome to Better Together’s bi-weekly newsletter, where we believe that the more we work together, the greater impact. Written by Rachel Ceruti, Director of Community @ FABSCRAP.

If you missed my last post parodying SNL’s Weekend Update Correspondent Stefon, you missed some amazing events. https://substack.com/home/post/p-173014990.

Here’s part two for the next batch of upcoming events we’re offering!

P.S. thanks to everyone who told me and/or emailed me that they loved it - BUT can you please show some love here?!! (like, share, subscribe, comment - really any engagement is SO appreciated! Think of every interaction as a potential donation to FABSCRAP!)

–

Climate Week: Well, it’s September which means too many climate-conscious people are flocking to New York City. Here with some tips on what to check out is our FABSCRAP’s City Correspondent, Stefon.

Stefon: Hi.

Climate Week: Thank you for joining us again, Stefon. How was Fashion Week?

Stefon: Haters called it boring, Mila Sullivan used FABSCRAP material in their first NYFW show, and textile artist & FAB supporter, Ella Emhoff, used everyone’s favorite heavy bikes to get around!

Climate Week: We love a sustainable queen! I heard that you hung out with Ella too, is that right?

Stefon: I’m not one to brag, but yes! I did attend her yarn swap with FABSCRAP- it was everything!

Climate Week: So what should climate-conscious and stylish New Yorkers rush to this week?

Stefon: Yes, if you’re always saying “I can’t make it to FABSCRAP sorting sessions” I have just the place for you. Climate Week New York’s hottest club is TEXTILE SORTING & PANEL. Taking place in the evening, this event has everything - panels, sorting through textile waste, info on microplastic, actionable steps to make change in your own life and community. Supported by both Food & Water Watch and FABSCRAP, this event is rare during climate week.

Evening Sorting + Panel

Climate Week: How so?

Stefon: Well, it’s an event where you can actually take action instead of just sitting in a room with a bunch of tech bros praising some bank for their Climate initiatives.

Climate Week: Ok, ok. I think Climate Week people want events from morning until night? What can you suggest?

Stefon: Yes, if you want to party from morning until night, I have just the event for you - SORT-A-THON. Taking place 2 floors below Jacques Torres chocolate factory, you don’t want to miss this. The goal of this event is to divert 3,000 pounds of textile waste from landfill. It has everything - Jersey Mike’s sandwiches, heavy duty scissors, new sessions every 2 hours, a Box O’Joe, a Sip & Sort @ 7p, and doubling up.

SORT-A-THON

Climate Week: What’s Doubling Up?

Stefon: It’s that thing where two volunteers share a table so they can sort through double the material! I did it back in April and met the most berserk mender. It’s amazing.

Climate Week: Welp, you heard it here. For the chance to meet Stefon, make sure to check these events out!

Where to hang with FABSCRAP this week!

• Sept 20 & 21 | On-site textile sorting @ Parson’s w/Remake’s Wear Your Values Weekend+ catch me on a panel ; )

• Sept 24th | 5:30-8p Textile sorting event + Panel with Food & Water Watch

  • ***My person pick for must-attend event this week!

• Sept 25th | 5-8p Panel + Sample Sale w/Oxfam for Secondhand September!

• Sept 26th | 12-1p FAB 101 [virtual]- learn about FABSCRAP, meet others in the community and help support our mission!

• Sept 27th | SORT-A-THON! 12 hours of sorting, baby! Last time, we diverted over 3k pounds of textile waste from landfill!

🔗Textile Resources

• Textile sorting is hard.

• For anyone following the Garment District rezoning, this is everything you need to know.

• Allbirds 🤝 Circ

• How to tell when a resale program is successful.

• Debrand 🤝 Everlane

• Listen (or read): The market for secondhand apparel is expanding, brands are paying attention.

• Wait… every other article about Rent the Runway is telling a different story.

  • Reporting rebounding sales

  • Big investment in inventory & a CEO AMA?

  • Lost the plot

  • Stock falls

  • **If anyone has or is using RTR, please let me know your experience. I’m curious what’s going on from the customer side.

• Listen: Inside ThredUp’s Surge: What’s Fueling Resale’s Rise

• A bridal resale play!

• & my obsession with eBay crosses the pond.

• Shoutout Arizona AG for helping to fight greenwashing.

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👁️ Deep Dives

“THRIFTING TOURS”

BoF has a REALLY expensive paywall, so I summarized the article for you:

At the Port of Laredo, Texas, thousands of tons of used clothing pass through warehouses known as ropa usada, where America’s discarded fast fashion and thrift donations are sorted, sold, or sent to landfills. With around 46 such warehouses in the city, each piled with massive mounds of textiles, much of the unsold clothing eventually ends up as waste. That’s what Heather Garcia discovered after moving near a landfill in 2022. Disturbed by the volume of discarded garments, she launched Laredo Thrifting Tours, shuttling visitors through warehouses to “turbo-thrift” by digging through the piles for hidden gems, from designer vintage coats to handmade quilts, at prices as low as $0.25 a pound. While some items are resold or upcycled, the sheer scale of waste—millions of tons annually—overshadows these small efforts.

Garcia’s tours highlight both the thrill and heartbreak of the secondhand clothing trade: treasures are mixed with trash, and sentimental items like embroidered baby blankets often appear among the discards. Yet despite its appeal to niche vintage seekers and resellers, thrifting on this scale cannot meaningfully stem the flood of global textile waste. Experts argue that the root problem is overproduction in the fashion industry, which churns out more clothing than can ever be reused. Garcia dreams of opening a nonprofit warehouse to expand access and keep more garments out of landfills, but until systemic changes occur in fashion manufacturing, her efforts remain a grassroots attempt to salvage value from what society has already thrown away.

Read the full article.

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I know it’s a busy week, but it would mean a lot to see ya’ll at our events this week.

In lieu of a few more deeper dives, I wanted to take a moment to be transparent. Our community hasn’t really been showing up, en masse, lately. Don’t get me wrong, we have our loyal regulars that truly keep our warehouse from overflowing, but I’m missing the casual and new faces that FABSCRAP invites (aka you). While we anticipate this every year (start of school, fashion week, climate week, general coming back from summer) I think it’s important to be clear that FABSCRAP is nothing without our community. So whether you were just at the warehouse or haven’t been in a few years, please make it a point to come back before the year ends, we’d love to see you : )

& obligatory non-profit ask - if you’re unable to attend an event, please consider becoming a paid subscriber! We just celebrated our 9th anniversary, so consider it a birthday present to ol’Fabby 🎉🎂🥳

-Rachel

Enjoy.

Fashion Week: Well, it’s the beginning of September which means millions of fashionista have come to the Big Apple. Here with some tips on what to check out is our FABSCRAP Update’s City Correspondent, Stefon.

Stefon: Hi.

Fashion Week: Thank you, Stefon. So, New York Fashion Week starts next week. I bet a lot of people out there are looking for a great New York hangout? Do you have any recommendations?

Stefon: Yes. If you’re irritably sick of paying hundreds of dollars for polyester that falls apart while you’re wearing it, I have just the place for you. New York’s hottest club is FABSCRAP’s Craft Night. Inspired by true events. In what was once the largest military supply base in the U.S. This place has everything. First time menders, experienced upcyclers, deadstock fabric, embroidery floss, knitters, that person you only see at mending circles yet know everything about. Plus, you can play everyone’s favorite party game, Rebel.

Michael Che: What’s Rebel?

Stefon: Well, it’s when you rebel against fast fashion by mending and/or making your own clothes!

Fashion Week: Stefon, let’s get back on track. I think a lot of people are in town for fashion shows, parties, & models. And they might be looking for something a little different.

Stefon: Yes. Yes, yes, yes, yes. fashion.

If you’ve ever seen a piece of clothing and thought - I could make that, I have the fashion party for you! New York’s hottest club is Ella Emhoff’s Yarn Swap. Located on the 5th floor of building B, this place has everything. Naturals, synthetics, blends, yarns for machine knitting or hand crafts. Crafters who care show up to refresh their yarn supply, & if you want Models - Ella Emhoff is bringing dozens of her own yarn to swap with you!

Fashion Week: Alright. Stefon, come on.

Climate Week: Yeah, something more environmentally friendly.

Stefon: Yes, yes, yes, yes. If you wouldn’t be caught dead shopping on Broadway in SoHo, I have weekend plans for you! New York’s hottest party is Remake’s Wear Your Values Weekend. Taking place at Project Runway’s favorite alumnus this weekend has everything! Beautiful bags made from plastic bags, vendors, BLabs brands, panels, VIP gift bags, ambassadors, and sorting in the center.

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Climate Week: What’s sorting in the center?

Stefon: It’s that thing where people sort through FABSCRAP’s pre-consumer textile waste for reuse and recycling, so it’s not sent to landfill.

Climate Week: How is that a Climate Week event?

Stefon: It’s estimated that nearly half of all fibers created are sent to landfill before consumers even see the product.

Fashion week: Oh yikes!

Stefon: That’s not even the worst part, as textiles break down, they release harmful emissions, directly impacting our climate, and leech pollutants into our waterways.

Climate Week: OK but Stafon - where can people learn more about this?

Stefon: Any and all of FABSCRAP’s events this month!

CRAFT NIGHT

TICKETS.

SORTING + HAPPY HOUR

TICKETS.

YARN SWAP

TICKETS.

WEAR YOUR VALUES

TICKETS. Link to sign up for sorting sent after registration.

SORTING + PANEL

TICKETS.

***Save the Date

PANEL + SAMPLE SALE

SORT-A-THON

Welcome to Better Together’s bi-weekly newsletter, where we believe that the more we work together, the greater impact. Written by Rachel Ceruti, Director of Community @ FABSCRAP.

Here’s a glimpse at what volunteers do at FABSCRAP.

Last week I started my new series, “FOLLOW THE FABRIC” and gave an overview of the 6 parts of FABSCRAP. Fresh off a volunteer pop-up, I wanted to pull back the curtain on what volunteering at FABSCRAP entails for the deep dive of this newsletter.

First things first

FABSCRAP reuses and recycles pre-consumer textile waste. This is all the waste generated by brands before we, as people who shop/thrift/sell/swap, even see the clothes.

Waste nerds (like myself) are going to come after to me, but it’s sometimes referred to industrial, commercial, or pre-consumer textile waste.

Inherently we know that throwing anything away is bad.

If you’re reading this it’s highly likely that you avoid throwing things away at all costs. I’ve always said, there is a fine line between upcycling and hoarding.

But there are major, global implications of textile waste. Here are a few:

At FABSCRAP, we reuse and recycle everything that comes with pre-consumer textile waste.

Over 11,000 people have volunteered with us! They help us determine what to do with the ~7,000+ lbs of textile waste we receive per week. Textile waste is more than fabric, so we’ve set up sustainable streams for all materials that come our way!

FABSCRAP volunteers make textile recycling (and reuse!) possible.

Think a friend would find this FASCINATING?

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AND/OR…

Volunteer with Us!

*To volunteer at FABSCRAP, you are required to create an account. This is a big step for our business and we’re so excited to continute rolling out the capabilities this allow us (& you)!

🔗Textile Resources

• NYFW x FABSCRAP (aka a better fashion week event): Craft night @ the warehouse Sept 9th!

• Sustainable & Crafty New Yorkers: Next Season is hosting a Studio Open House on Sept 6th - you won’t want to miss this!

• Circular business models receive just 2% of all investments

• Bipartisan coalition dedicated to championing the growing recommerce economy - yes please!

• Great article on the growing global recognition of New York State’s textile regulation.

• You’re a real one if you know I’m obsessed with eBay’s investment in circular fashion.

• Listen: The Vergecast came to FABSCRAP.

• Learn more about FABSCRAP, sort through textile waste, and listen to yours truly on a panel at this amazing Climate Week event with Remake!

• ~70% of what we recieve at FABSCRAP are swatches (aka headers). Here’s what we’re doing to make them more sustainable!

👁️ Deep Dives

“SLOW FASHION CAUCUS”

This first-of-its-kind caucus brings lawmakers and industry leaders together to advance policies that make fashion more sustainable. In Congress, a caucus is simply a group of members who band together around a shared cause—and in this case, it’s about rethinking the future of textiles through repair, reuse, recycling, and circular design.! The Slow Fashion Caucus was launched by Rep. Chellie Pingree (D-Maine) alongside Reps. Marie Gluesenkamp Perez (D-Wash.) and Sydney Kamlager-Dove (D-Calif.).

Learn More & Get Involved

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“RACHEL’S BOOK RECS”

Nobody asked but I LOVE reading and use every excuse to talk about books I love IRL, so I’m not sure why I haven’t used this platform to do so. Let me know if you want more info, but here are 3 books I’m currently reading or just finished & LOVE:

• Women's Work: The First 20,000 Years: Women, Cloth, and Society in Early Times

  by Elizabeth Wayland Barber

• Careless People: A Cautionary Tale of Power, Greed, and Lost Idealism

  by Sarah Wynn-Williams

• The Fabric of Civilization: How Textiles Made the World

  by Virginia Postrel

__

“FROM THE ARCHIVES”

I’ve gotten a lot of new followers recently and I wanted to share my first Substack post as a window into who I am! This was back before I merged my business, Reclypt, with FABSCRAP, but it’s a great intro into who I am.

—

Thanks for reading!

Please like, comment, & share - it really helps AND means a lot : )

-Rachel

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