As you may have guessed Toms-Price stores go through a lot of fabric samples. At least twice a year our furniture manufacturers supply us with additional samples of their new fabrics. Soon our racks are overloaded and it’s time to weed out the old discontinued fabrics. But what to do with them?
That’s where recycling fabric samples comes in. Vanessa Howells, a Toms-Price office associate at our Old Orchard store, has taken up this special endeavor. Toms-Price stores were previously recycling fabric samples on a limited basis, but it has been a coordinated effort since March of 2014, thanks to Vanessa.
Vanessa Howells of Toms-Price Old Orchard
In 2014, Toms-Price gave away approximately 860 pounds of discontinued fabric swatches! What a great effort it has been, on the part of managers and employees at our stores, to offer interested individuals and organizations these fabrics to be re-purposed. With recycling fabric samples we avoid sending them into landfills.
Pre-schoolers use the fabrics for art projects. In Lincolnshire, a local church makes blankets and in Wheaton refugees relocated to the area are making purses to sell. For World Relief, the fabrics are used in sewing groups.
Re:new Project of Glen Ellyn empowers women refugees
These are some of the non-profit organizations where our fabrics were distributed in 2014:
Re:new gives inspiration and purpose to refugee women by giving them valuable work to do. The community project is providing flourishing relationships between refugees and their neighbors which foster respect. The work these women do restores hope that may have been lost after tragic past experiences.
With a vision of common humanity Re:new’s manifesto states: “We believe in the value of coming alongside those in our community who are in need, regardless of religion, race, or nationality.” Click here for more information on Renew.
Vanessa, who spearheaded this effort, says, “Now that we are making a more concerted effort to give our fabrics away, I am hoping we will see even more pounds of fabrics given away in 2015!” If you, or your organization, are interested in receiving some of our fabric samples in the future please contact any of our stores.
Lincolnshire at 847.478.1900. Old Orchard at 847.675.9400. So. Barrington at 847.783.1500. Wheaton at 630.668.7878. Bloomingdale Outlet at 630.529.7600.
