Letter from Rachel, Reclypt's Founder
Reclypt is now part of FABSCRAP 🌀+♻️
I am so excited to be sharing this news with you!
All the things you loved about Reclypt are now offered at FABSCRAP 🌀+♻️
This is a dream scenario for me and Reclypt. I’m SO proud to now represent the FABSCRAP community; whatever the business name, I just want to be doing this work - enabling access to and awareness of circular fashion practices through community building.
How did we get here?
I have to admit, I didn’t have an exit strategy with Reclypt. While I knew you, our community, was immensely valuable in so many different ways, I also knew we were limited by how small, boot-strapped, and DIY our operations were. Community has always been the driver in any step we took. Ya’ll have made me a better community leader but more importantly, made Reclypt everything it is today!
From the beginning, when Reclypt was a blog about upcycled fashion called “Tresor Exchange” in 2021, the community was our driver. Ya’ll were vocal and told me you wanted to shop the blog and discover new upcycled brands; so I turned it into an online marketplace (& into “Reclypt”). Then, you made it clear that you wanted to do the upcycling, so we started mending clubs. Which snowballed into upcycling workshops, swaps, and our super-fun Circular Fashion Playground (since our first Playground, I knew we needed stronger and more stable operations)! Then, as our community grew, we drew in people beyond the fashion world who were interested in the broader circular economy which led to circular salons and book clubs/sustainable style clubs.
Then, this past June I walked into FABSCRAP for a job interview and walked out with a merger proposition.
THE DREAM! Reclypt and myself were seeking stronger and more stable operations while FABSCRAP was seeking community building through expanded events and educational programming. We had what the other needed AND we’ve successfully worked together in the past, admiring each other’s growth.
So starting July 1, I’ve been working at the FABSCRAP warehouse in Sunset Park, bonding with the team, taking ownership in my role, leading education presentations, and planning and prepping upcoming programming!
As of Sept 6th, Reclypt has officially merged with FABSCRAP
& I’ve joined the FABSCRAP team as its inaugural Director of Partnerships, Outreach, and Education.
[for FAQs, keep scrolling]
The circular fashion community can look forward to new events, increased access to material resources, expanded volunteer opportunities, and deeper contextual conversations. For the first time, a complete Community Calendar for 2025 will be available soon, full of events to bring us all together. Here’s a glimpse of what’s to come.
I want to make an important distinction between FABSCRAP and Reclypt.
Reclypt dealt mostly with post-consumer waste, FABSCRAP with pre-consumer. This means (& more on this below) is …
Reclypt’s approach to circular fashion was swapping, mending, upcycled, etc. clothes that were worn, swapped, and/or bought by consumers like you and me.
FABSCRAP’s approach to circular fashion is reusing or recycling textile waste generated by fashion or interior design brands, like J. Crew and Carolina Herrera; which means textiles untouched and/or unseen by consumers.
What you can and can’t do with your clothing is a design decision that stems from corporations. As Reclypt mergers with FABSCRAP this is important to keep in mind. I’ve been describing it as - if you’re going to a FABSCRAP event in the future, we’ll be using our “pre-consumer” textiles as materials to keep our “post-consumer” (Reclypt approach) clothes out of landfill.
IF THIS IS CONFUSING - join a virtual FABSCRAP presentation (hosted by me!), this will clear it up with visuals, questions, and discussion. We’ll be announcing them soon via FAB’s Newsletter.
We're here to lead by example, to show that we’re all better together!
This is an exciting time for all of us who believe in the power of community and collaboration to drive change. Together, we're not just imagining a better future—we're building it. Let's continue to celebrate, inspire, and uplift each other as we move forward!
FAQs
If you’re reading this, you’re a real one!
Whether you found this through Reclypt or FABSCRAP, we’re happy you’re here! You’re a huge reason why this merger came to be. Circular fashion is only possible if we all work together. So here are some answers to questions I’m anticipating.
What is FABSCRAP?
I’ll be hosting a virtual presentation ALL about FABSCRAP during climate week - sign up for FABSCRAPS’s newsletter to be the first to know!
First and foremost, FABSCRAP works with pre-consumer textile waste. Did I lose you with those fancy words? This just means they’re reusing or recycling fashion waste that happens before you & I see the garment/product. This includes fabric rolls, trim, samples, and more that haven’t been seen by the public. Often this waste occurs in the design and production phase.
FABSCRAP receives 6,000 - 8,000 pounds of textile waste A WEEK, on average.
How does this much waste happen? Very quick: As brands’ (fashion, interior design, and entertainment) design their collections and products they try out various fabrics to see how they drape or feel. Whatever isn’t used, goes to a landfill (yes, rolls of fabric are sent to landfill!!!). Similarly, when the fabric is chosen, there is waste from cutting out patterns and trying different trims. Continuing through the process, when samples are created they’re marked, cut, up and more THEN thrown into a landfill. Lastly, samples of the upcoming collection are purposefully mutilated to prevent them from being resold or copied.
Good news hear is that some brands allow FABSCRAP to reuse those mutilated samples which you can shop! Their mendable section is an upcyclers DREAM!
SO instead of all that waste going to landfill, FABSCRAP scoops it up (literally picks up from local clients) to be sorted. All textiles are sorted for recycling or reuse. To learn more about this, you should sign up to sort (you get free fabric as a thank you afterwards!)
There is so much more to FABSCRAP! I really encourage you to join our Climate Week Virtual Presentation AND/OR volunteer with us to learn more!
Oh & it’s a non-profit which doesn’t mean we don’t make/generate money, it just means whatever money is made goes back into the business. Donations always welcome!
What is my role?
One part, bringing what I did at Reclypt to FABSCRAP; another part spreading the word and educating New Yorkers (& beyond) about why there is a FABSCRAP and how they can get involved.
But for real, I am now the Director of Partnerships, Outreach, and Education.
If you’re interested in getting involved with FABSCRAP, either as a fashion brand (big or small), school/community group, or sustainability advocate/activist, get in touch! Drop an email to education@fabscrap.org to see how we can collab/work together!
What was Reclypt?
TLDR: A community sharing and learning from each other to discover which circular fashion practices work best for them; because circular fashion looks different on everyone. In 2021, Reclypt started as a blog for upcycled fashion, which grew into an upcycled fashion marketplace. Our community quickly told us that they want to do the upcycling, repairing, second-hand sourcing, etc. so we creates a mending club. This is still happening today, but we’ve also added monthly circular fashion book clubs, circular salons for intersectionality , upcycling workshops for knowledge and skill sharing, panels, presentations, fireside chats, and of course, our Circular Fashion Playground to truly play with circular fashion.
Will Reclypt-style events still be happening?
You bet! But with some slight tweaks offered through FABSCRAP. As Director of Partnerships, Education, and Outreach at FABSCRAP, I’m not only leading them but creating and organizing them! Any ideas for events, please comment below.
Which events can I expect?
We’ll be publishing our 2025 calendar very soon, but here’s what you can expect:
CRAFT NIGHTS
Mending and more! Craft Nights provide space for our community to work on their handcrafted projects together, seek advice and encouragement, learn or teach new skills, share resources, show and tell about your work, and strengthen circular fashion practices.
INDUSTRY INSIGHTS
Unraveling the Fashion Industry - wins, challenges, and opportunities! We’re bringing industry experts and caring consumers together for enlightening evenings filled with actionable discussion! The format may vary: presentations, panels, book clubs, and networking events, but the content
will stay super current.
WORKSHOPS (return!)
Monthly hands-on workshops to learn, practice, or perfect techniques. Led by local community members with diverse perspectives, these workshops will focus on upcycling, repairing, and repurposing while teaching skills such as mending, quilting, knitting, crocheting, darning, embroidery, and more, using FABSCRAP fabric.
Makers Show & Tell:
Show off those projects you’ve been working on! This bi-monthly evening event is meant to celebrate the work we’re doing for an audience that’ll truly appreciate it.
Sip & Sorts:
A volunteer session at FABSCRAP’s warehouse but with signature drinks! Join others to sort recovered fabrics, network, and sip on cocktail, wine, or mocktails (drink varies by event) towards FABSCRAP’s vision of ending textile waste!
What else can I expect from this merger?
An investment in you, the sustainable fashion community! This will look like expanding offerings from FABSCRAP, increased access to circular resources, actionable and innovative solutions, and a strengthened commitment to reducing waste through circular practices in NYC.
With this merger, FABSCRAP and Reclypt aim to lead by example, to show that “better” comes from working together. Our combined efforts multiply our strength. We can establish new standards in the fashion industry, driving change that positively impacts all stakeholders. It’s an investment in the power of every individual who recognizes our shared responsibility for, and takes action towards, a more sustainable future.
Together, we aim to set new standards in the industry, driving change that positively impacts all stakeholders and fosters a more sustainable future. We're here to lead by example, to show that we’re all better together!
Stay tuned as this substack will also be making a change. Thank you for your support, I’m excited for this next chapter!