RepairCycle

At a glance

Status: Completed

The RepairCycle is a mobile garment repair service and community experience that promotes sustainable clothing habits through… Read full summary

Funding received
2018-2019
Grant type
Small
Awarded
$3,000
Funding partners
  • Services and Activities Fee (SAF)
  • UW Resilience Lab (UWRL)
     

The RepairCycle is a mobile garment repair service and community experience that promotes sustainable clothing habits through creative, on-the-spot mending. By teaching accessible repair skills, it aims to reduce textile waste and shift public perception toward valuing and maintaining clothing. The project centers around a custom trailer that transforms into a collaborative workspace and will be featured at events across UW campuses and in the broader Seattle area, thanks to support from the UW Resilience Lab Seed Fund.

The RepairCycle is a mobile, on-the-spot garment mending service and experience that brings the UW (and Seattle) community together around the universal aspect of clothing—offering a functional service while creating connection and dialogue through a shared activity. By empowering creative and easy-to-learn mending skills, we are working to transform our local community’s relationship with clothing. Ultimately, we believe that garment repair is not just a viable option, but should a delightfully designed experience.

Circular Textiles: There is no straightforward way to recycle textiles. The result is one garbage truck of textiles wasted every second, or 92 million tons of solid waste dumped into landfills every year. Disrupting this wasteful cycle and a disposable mindset means taking a long, hard look at the psychology of fashion. Simply put, we need to invest in services and skills that empower us to wear and enjoy the clothing we already own for longer. Which inevitably means, catalyzing a culture of garment repair.

Transforming Trailer: The RepairCycle bicycle trailer is the foundation for service and events. The cart’s interior is a simple box with a sturdy floor that can fit a variety of configured elements. The trailer’s top unfolds to provide ample, collaborative mending and learning space. The hinged cabinet on the back of the of the trailer detaches, offering room to display educational and event materials, as well as easy-to-access materials storage.

Upcoming Events: Generous support from the UW Resilience Lab Seed Fund will sponsor our 2019-2020 RepairCycle tour and brand. The team will host repair services & creative mending workshops at events across all three UW campuses, the 2019 Seattle Design Festival, and King County sustainability events.

Request amount and budget

Total amount requested: $3,000
Budget administrator: See attached AAR form

Project lead

Coreen Callister

coreencallister@gmail.com

Affiliation

Student

Categories

  • Resilience Seed Grant