“I run a rescue fabric business, which means I rescue dead stock that would otherwise go to landfill. Our shop is dedicated to rescuing end-of-life fabrics, haberdashery and sewing essentials.”
Joan Kelly, Textile Connections
Supporting a circular economy for textiles
Textile Connections works within the textile industry to rescue ‘dead stock’ – fabric and sewing materials that remain after excess mill runs, manufacturing overruns, cancelled orders, fabric styles out of season, and ex-crafting materials. Joan turns this ‘trash’ into treasure by selling fabrics, haberdashery, and sewing essentials via her shop.
Joan’s sustainability story
Joan presented a brief overview of Textile Connections’ approach to sustainability at a workshop in December 2024 for Redcliffe Sustainable Business Network members. She described what the business does, and how she collaborates with others to have a positive impact. Watch the 2-minute video…
Textile Connections’ sustainability initiatives
- Rescuing fabric from landfill: buying or sourcing ‘dead stock’ from fabric manufacturers, designer brands, retailers and consumers
- Donating off-cuts: giving small end pieces to crafters
- Helping consumers recycle more: buying reusable stock from users on Facebook Marketplace
- Educating and inspiring others: providing sewing and project ideas for using fabric pieces
- Collaborating with other businesses: working with remnant-based businesses elsewhere to share the deadstock load
- Reusing packaging: using cardboard boxes from deliveries for collecting and storing materials
- Minimising waste: looking for creative uses of materials and recycling as much as possible.
“The only thing that goes in the bin are small cut-offs from threads that are too fiddly to reuse. In the last two weeks I have thrown out just one recycle garbage bag.”
Joan, Textile Connections
Quality materials: Textile Connections often rescues top-quality fabric from designer brands. It would be such a pity to see that go to waste!
“Rescuing dead stock helps brands and other remnant producers reduce their environmental impact through recycling, upcycling or working with community groups to meet specific needs.”
Joan, Textile Connections
Inspiring others to be sustainable
Textile Connections is run as a business not a charity, so Joan has to buy most of her stock from industry sources. The stock comes from manufacturing overruns, ex-designer stock, cancelled orders, craft sewers with excess materials, textiles inherited from family members, and donations from the public or charities.
If people or organisations donate more, prices will come down, because sewing materials are very expensive. Joan is aiming to make sewing more affordable and sustainable for everyone. Meanwhile, In her shop, she saves any end pieces for crafters, so whoever comes in on the day gets them free.
Supporting creative projects
Joan encourages people to come to the Textile Connections shop in Redcliffe QLD to discuss their project needs and ideas. For example, she’s helped Santa make a new suit, tracked down leather pieces for a shoemaker, found velvet for a customer’s jewellery boxes, and supported many other creative projects.
She also posts ideas on social media to encourage people to find creative uses for rescued materials.
By connecting with other businesses via the Redcliffe Sustainable Business Network and using Green Street sustainability resources, Joan will continue to create positive community and environmental impacts. To connect with Joan or find out more, see the links below.
If you live in Brisbane or the Moreton Bay region, why not pop into Joan’s shop and explore the sustainable fabrics and sewing supplies at Textile Connections, 126 Sutton St, Redcliffe, QLD 4020 (see map).
Further information
Textile Connections:
Join a Sustainable Business Network
Textile Connections is a member of the Redcliffe Sustainable Business Network. Members connect via local events and Groups on Green Street. If you’d like to join a local network (or create a new one), contact Green Street.
Related Green Street resources
- Green Street Badges: Sustainable Fashion, Reuse, Recycling
- Buying & selling responsibly: Sustainable procurement guide/tool
- Understanding concepts: Glossary of sustainability terms
