Media Kit

Ragfinery
Compiled May 2016 by:
Carolyn Trainer,
Moira Landvatter and
Yaelle Kimmelman
www.ragfinery.com

Table of Contents
Media Backgrounder............................................................................................. 3
Regional facts ........................................................................................................ 5
International facts .................................................................................................. 6
Ragfinery Top 10 FAQs ........................................................................................ 9
Logo .................................................................................................................... 11
Tagline ................................................................................................................ 11
Story Ideas .......................................................................................................... 12
Media Clips ......................................................................................................... 13
In Action .............................................................................................................. 15

Media Backgrounder
Press Contact: Dallas Betz
dbetz@reuseworks.org, (360)739-2537

Overview
Ragfinery is a local, Bellingham nonprofit organization focused on
reducing textile waste by upcycling unwanted clothes and materials.
Ragfinery is an organization that emphasizes creativity and individuality.
Increasing sustainability and reducing waste are key values of the
organization, as are enhancing and supporting a local economy. Ragfinery, as
well as Appliance Depot, are both overseen by ReUse Works, which is a
Bellingham nonprofit founded by Executive Director, Duane Jager. At this
time, Ragfinery currently employs eight staff members.
Ragfinery fights the trend of fast fashion by repurposing and
upcycling textile waste instead of allowing that waste to be thrown into
landfills. By shopping at Ragfinery, customers are supporting a small, locallyowned business as opposed to a multinational corporation that exploits its
workers. Customers also receive clothes that are unique and well-made, as
opposed to the mass-produced, cheap clothing items found at fast fashion
retailers.

Current Activities
Ragfinery has frequent events at their store, which is located at 1421 N.
Forest St. Bellingham, WA 98225. The events vary from month to month,
however, there are some consistent monthly events that can be found below.
Each year, Ragfinery also hosts two major events, a sweater challenge and a
runway show. Contestants display their upcycled designs and compete for
prizes. In the past, these events have occurred during December and May.
Monthly Events:
Open Craft NightHeld on the fourth Wednesday of every month from
6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Bellingham community members are welcome to bring

their own supplies and work on craft projects. Ragfinery staff can offer
their expert skills and creative ideas.
Sewing Boot CampHeld over three consecutive Saturdays,
participants are taught basic sewing skills that they can use when
upcycling their clothes. Check the website for upcoming registration
dates and additional workshop fees.
CrafternoonHeld on the third Saturday of every month from 1 p.m.
to 4:30 p.m. This event welcomes community members of all ages.
Participants can bring supplies and work on new projects
collaboratively.
Sewing ConsultationsHeld every Tuesday and Thursday from 10:30
a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Community members are welcome to bring in clothes
that are in need of alterations. Ragfinery staff members will help guide
and teach participants on how to alter their clothing themselves. Call
ahead of time to make an appointment. These consultations include a
small fee.

Key Terms
Upcyclingthe creative reuse of old items that would be otherwise
thrown away. Upcycling involves transforming waste materials and
useless/unwanted products into new products of better quality
Fast Fashion a term used for fashion retailers who create garments
meant to portray current fashion trends. Fast fashion is made cheaply
and sold at low prices
Individualitydefined by Ragfinery as standing out and separating
yourself from the masses through self-expression and one-of-a-kind
clothing

Facts
Local and Hyper Local
The national average of textile waste, per person, is 70 pounds
(Bellingham Textile Project 2013). If this figure is applied to
Bellingham residents, then textile waste overall is estimated to be
around 5.5 million pounds, not including the rest of Whatcom County
(Bellingham Textile Project 2013).

 Luckily, eco-conscious Bellingham residents produce less waste then

the national average, but still manage to produce a whopping 3.5
million pounds of textile waste (Bellingham Textile Project 2013).
For local Bellingham thrift stores, the store that gains the most
revenue is Goodwill at $6,000,000. This is followed by Value Village
which receives $4,400,000 and Wise Buys which receives $3,330.00
(Bellingham Textile Project 2013).
The popularity of thrift stores in Bellingham, as shown above, is the
reason why Ragfinery is focused on upcycling, as opposed to
functioning as a thrift store (Cole 2014).
If a mere 10 percent of textile waste produced by Bellingham residents
was collected, then 350,000 pounds of textile waste would be available
for reuse (Bellingham Textile Project 2013).

Regional facts
Textiles account for 3 percent of the waste in King Countys Cedar
Hills Landfill in Maple Valley (Watson 2012).
In King County, there are 39,464 tons of textiles disposed each year
(Post Consumer Textiles Report 2014).
Thrift stores in King County receive 12,468 tons of textiles yearly (Post
Consumer Textiles Report, 2014)
Thrift stores in Washington, as a whole, receive 47,143 tons (Post
Consumer Textiles Report 2014).
However, this only makes up for about 10.8 percent of all textile waste
(Post Consumer Textiles Report 2014)

National facts
As a country, the United States, generates 25 billion pounds of textile
waste each year (Bellingham Textile Project 2013).
Of that waste, 85 percent ends up in landfills and only 15 percent is
donated to thrift store (Council for Textile Recycling 2016).
Textile waste is becoming an increasingly concerning problem; between
1999 and 2009 textile waste grew by 40 percent (Council for Textile
Recycling 2016).

 Our projected national textile waste for the year 2019 is 35.4 billion
pounds (Council for Textile Recycling, 2016). Textile waste in 2009
was 25.46 million pounds, which shows the extent to which this
unsustainable trend is increasing (Council for Textile Recycling 2016).
Not surprisingly, an increase in waste is caused by an increase in
consumption. Americans on average buy 83.9 pounds of textile
materials (Post Consumer Textiles Recycling 2016). More than half of
those materials are then quickly disposed of as waste.
95 percent of waste that ends up in landfills has the ability to be
reused and upcycled (Post Consumer Textiles Recycling 2016).
Only about 12-15 percent of Americans shop at thrift stores (Claudio
2007).

International facts
The fashion industry is an extremely lucrative market, with global
spending on fashion reaching $1.2 trillion (Yun Tan 2016). These high
rates of consumption generate mass amounts of textile waste.
Fast fashion retailers have made a profit by selling consumers cheaplymade, mass-produced clothes at low prices.
By outsourcing their companies to countries with lenient labor
regulations, such as China, fast fashion retailers can save money on
workers wages, and therefore sell their clothes at low prices (Yun Tan
2016).
Fast fashion retailers use cheap materials, which means that their
clothing often has a short lifespan, and ultimately is disposed of in
landfills.
Despite ethical and environmental repercussions, retailers who employ
the fast fashion framework have higher profit margins than retailers
who do not (Annamma 2012). This, then creates further incentive for
corporations to go the fast fashion route.

Biographies
Duane Jager
Executive Director
Jager founded ReUse works, the parent nonprofit. Jager moved to
Bellingham in 2002 and has been the founder of several nonprofits and
startups. He is passionate about sustainability and sees waste a resource for
economic development.
Contact: djager@reuseworks.org,
(360) 527-2646

Shan Sparling
Manager
Sparling has built the creative team at Ragfinery, including volunteers and
trainees. She runs the organization effectively, putting her creative skills and
business knowledge to use. She also works on product development and
customer service as part of her job.
Contact: ssparling@reuseworks.org, (360) 738-8677

Dallas Betz
Media Specialist
Betz works at both ReUse Works and Ragfinery. He controls the media
outreach aspect of the organization, such as updating Ragfinerys social
media pages and planning events. Betz also manages the organizations
website where he is able to employ his graphic design expertise. He began
working with Jager and Ragfinery in 2008 and is passionate about ReUse
Works and their mission.
Contact: dbetz@reuseworks.org,
(360) 739-2537

Boilerplate
Ragfinery is a textile upcycling center that opened in Bellingham,
Washington, in 2014. The organization primary focuses are increasing
sustainability, reducing textile waste, and supporting a local economy. The
Executive Director is Duane Jager. The manager is Shan
Sparling.www.ragfinery.com

Sources
Annamma, Joy et al. "Fast Fashion, Sustainability, and the Ethical
Appeal of Luxury Brands." Fashion Theory 16, no. 3 (2012): 273-96. doi::
10.2752/175174112X13340749707123.
Bellingham Textile Project Business Plan. 2013. Bellingham.
Cole, Brent. "Ragfinery Brings New Life to Discarded Clothing,
Textiles." Grow Northwest. April 2, 2014. Accessed April 17, 2016.
http://www.grownorthwest.com/2014/04/ragfinery-brings-new-life-todiscarded-clothing-textiles/.
Claudio, Luz. "Waste Couture: Environmental Impact of the Clothing
Industry." US National Library of Medicine National Institutes of
Health. September 2007. Accessed April 17, 2007.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1964887/.
Post-Consumer Textiles: King County Linkup Research Summary
Report. Report. King County Linkup, 2014.
Ragfinery Textile Trasformation. 2015. http://www.ragfinery.com/.
"The Issue." Council for Textile Recycling. 2016.
www.weardonaterecycle.org
Watson, Tom. "Old Clothes, Even Torn and Stained, Can Be Recycled."
The Seattle Times, May 18, 2012.
Yun Tan, Zhai. "What Happens When Fashion Becomes Fast,
Disposable And Cheap?" NPR, April 10, 2016. http://www.npr.org/

Ragfinery Top 10 FAQs

1. What is Ragfinery?

Ragfinery is nonprofit a textile reuse center that sells donated fabrics,

materials and clothing by the pound. Ragfinery is committed to
keeping textile waste out of landfills and promotes a strong local
economy through job-training for low-income residents.

2. What exactly is upcycling or textile reuse?

Upcycling and textile reuse are giving a textile a second life. Rather
than simply
throwing it away, you could turn an old dress into a tote bag, a pair of
shorts into
an apron or an old sweater into a knitted hat. The possibilities are
endless.

3. What can I donate to Ragfinery?

Any old garments or fabrics are accepted as donation. You can even
bring fabric scraps. We also accept crafting supplies such as yarn and
other notions. Follow this link to find what can and cannot be donated:
http://www.ragfinery.com/get-involved/donate/

4. What makes Ragfinery different from other

second-hand shops?

Ragfinery isnt just a second-hand store. We also sell new items that
are created from old textiles. Ragfinery also doesnt just operate as a
store, but we encourage community members, like you, to come and
attend workshops so we can create new things from old items. By
shopping at Ragfinery, you are supporting a local business and
contributing to the local economy.

5. What are the workshops Ragfinery offers?

We offer a variety of workshops. All of them relate to upcycling items

that you have from home. It is a way for you to combine your creativity
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while helping the environment. To learn more about the workshops,

follow this link: http://www.ragfinery.com/upcoming-events

6. Who can come to the workshops?

Anyone is welcome to come. Instructional staff will be there to help
with sewing and assist you in crafting. You can sign-up for the
workshops and learn more about each individual offering, by following
this link: http://www.ragfinery.com/upcoming-events

7. How much do the workshops cost?

Each workshop varies based on materials and time. We have craft

workshops that start around $20 , all the way to sewing boot camps
that reach $75. We also have free craft nights and creative instruction
nights.

8. What should I bring to the workshops?

Depends on the workshop. Often, we will ask you to bring your own
materials. Check the workshop description prior to coming to the
workshop. They can be found at: http://www.ragfinery.com/upcomingevents/category/workshops/

9. I want to upcycle or DIY, but I am not very

crafty. How should I start?

You can begin by coming to one of our workshops or craft nights. You
can also visit our Pinterest page or even ask one of our employees for
any tips or tricks.

10. How else can I contribute to a sustainable

future through textile reuse?

Never throw any of your clothes, towels or sheets as they just end up in
landfills. Also try to shop at consignment, reuse and thrift stores as
much as possible. Avoid shopping at fast fashion retailers and try to
DIY and upcycle as much as you can.

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Logo
The following two logos are examples of appropriate logos to use when
associating with Ragfinery.
The logo was created by Duane Jager in 2014 when Ragfinery was started.

The logo can either be on a white background with dark purple lettering, or a
dark purple background with white lettering. All other colors or distortions
are prohibited. Contact Ragfinery for more information on their logo and
standards.

Tagline
Turn your trash into treasure
While their tagline is not incorporated into their logo, the tagline has been
created to help portray their brand message and personality. The tagline can
be used in addition to their logo.

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Story Ideas
A feature story that looks at how much can you get for different prices
at Ragfinery. This would be a multimedia visual piece, where a
reporter can go into Ragfinery and find an array of clothing and
textiles at different budget points. Visuals will include how much
someone can get for $5, $10 and $15.
A series of features or artist spotlights would feature various
Ragfinery artists or regulars and their creation through upcycled
material showing the variety of different ideas locals made.
The Necessity of Sewing could be another possible story that would
look at why college students should sew and the importance of creating
your own pieces, for both economic and environmental impact. The
article could then go into some of the basics or how to get started, such
as the workshops at Ragfinery.
A feature on Duane Jager and how he started ReUseWorks, what his
inspiration was and building such successful nonprofits in the
Bellingham area.
A feature story on individuality and expression through clothing and
why making your clothing has more creative benefits.

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Media Clips
Local Non-Profit Ragfinery Taps into Sewing Revival by whatcomtalk.com
http://www.whatcomtalk.com/2016/01/13/ragfinery-sewing-revival/

Sewing, along with the resourcefulness mindset, while mostly absent from the
average household for a few generations, is making a comeback. The reasons for
renewed interest in the needle and thread are widespread from a desire for selfexpression to being able to create clothes that fit well, to hit television shows like
Project Runway, and a handful of environmental, economic, and social justice
concerns.
Locally, the non-profit organization Ragfinery is tapping into that growing trend.
With a shop full of donated fabric, scraps, and garments along with a calendar full of
workshops to help crafters learn what to do with them, Ragfinery is banking on
Bellinghams creative bent and environmentally responsible leanings to create a
successful business model. -

Upcycle ThrowDown challenges artists by Margaret Bikman for the

Bellingham Herland, July 22, 2015
http://www.bellinghamherald.com/entertainment/ent-columnsblogs/article27242257.html
Lydia Places thrift store, Wise Buys, and Ragfinery are promoting a new
event, the Downtown Upcycle ThrowDown, an art and sustainable challenge
event sponsored by Northwest Recycling Inc. Its a cooperative Upcycle
Challenge between the two Bellingham sustainably-minded stores, coming
together to make art from donated and discarded goods.
The event aims to encourage artistically inclined folks to design and create a
wearable or non-wearable item that features nearly 100 percent used and
recycled goods.
Ragfinery Rolls out the Red Carpet for the Fancy Pants Runway
Challenge by whatcomtalk.com
http://www.whatcomtalk.com/2016/04/28/ragfinery-fancy-pants-runwaychallenge/
Local job-training and creative-reuse textile nonprofit Ragfinery
(ragfinery.com) is drawing on the success of last years Wedding Dress
Challenge with a new up-cycle themed runway show. The Fancy Pants
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Runway Challenge tasks contestants with transforming one pair of tuxedo

pants and one cocktail dress into a single creative wearable item which
theyll wear on the runway at the Leopold Crystal Ballroom at 7:00 p.m. on
Friday, May 20.
Attendees at the event can expect a highly entertaining and inspiring show,
as all levels and ages of textile artists walk the runway showcasing endless
creative possibilities for transforming old clothes into new designs.

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In Action
Ragfinery hosted a Fancy Pants Runway Challenge on May 20, 2016.
Included are a few photos of the event.
Executive Director,
Duane Jager MCs
for the event as
contestants display
their
upcycled
designs.

The community support was incredible this year, the

house was packed. Dallas Betz, Ragfinery Media
Specialist

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