Our warehouse is filled with an ever-changing inventory of reusable material saved from Philadelphia’s creative industries. In conjunction with DesignPhiladelphia, we’re challenging you to generate new works from these previously wasted resources. Prizes will be given for the best submissions! Bonus points for project examples [pictures/links] from your own life or from your favorite artists and makers!
saturday, october 13th — industry: fashion / textiles
material: fabric remnants [<one square foot]
Fabric is made from natural fibers [derived from plant, insect and animal sources] and synthetic fibers [derived from petrochemicals]. These fibers are bleached and dyed to create colors and patterns before and after they are woven or pressed into fabric. Fabrics are available to consumers as a raw material for creative projects, but are also made into products like clothing and furniture/décor and sold ready-made. In theater and film, fabrics are not only used for costumes and decorative set dressing, but also to skin flats, mask areas of the stage from view, and create drops [large panels/curtains] for lighting and architectural effects.


Leather, yarn, fur, trim, woven fabric, pressed fabric and felt remnants… the use of these commonly wasted materials is a hot topic among artists and designers [see Columbia College Chicago’s show, Zero Waste: Fashion Repatterned, or DesignPhiladelphia 2012’s /adaptations/ for some interesting ideas]. Leave a comment or email info at theresourceexchange dot org to submit your idea for how to reuse textile remnants!