Textile reuse and repurposing

Context

In June 2025, a wonderful mover and shaker who has done a heap of volunteer work within the Manawatū community, Sonya Turk, contacted ENM to share concerns around the amount of clothing and textiles going into landfill and looking to collaborate with others to see what can be done.

This led to our first Hui in October 2025, inviting those interested in Textile Reuse and Repurposing to connect. We had around 68 people respond and 40 people participate, which included an online option allowing people from across Aotearoa to participate. The energy, interest and buzz was evident!

18 people participated in the February 2026 Textile Hui in the afternoon and 9 people in the evening. Passionate people who care, share ideas, collaborate and take action! There we worked with World Cafe style groups around different ideas/projects offered by passionate people exploring potential for action, connection and collaboration.

ENM now has 100 people registered with our Textile Reuse and Repurposing group.

The group hold hui's and host activities for people to share what they are doing or planning, what they need and what they can offer, create opportunities for connection, collaboration, learning and action.

Stay in the loop or learn more - Email Di

What we do

Whakawhanāungatanga: who is in the room, weave connections, collaborations and generate action. We also celebrate wins and good news stories and share resources.

What has emerged

1. Textile Rescue is now a member of ENM and is described as a social enterprise working with businesses, charities and individuals to recycle textiles and connect that with waste reduction, redistribution and repurposing efforts that bring us closer to circularity. You can also find them on Facebook.
2. Participants are currently actively exploring the idea of a fabric and yarn op shop inspired by the Ragfinery model, which operates as a nonprofit textile reuse centre and retail/community space located in Bellingham, a similar sized city as Palmerston North. The idea is to create a space for people to donate high quality fabric and yarn for onselling and to offer mending and upcycling workshops. 
3. This idea led to passionate conversations around the creation and development of a Textile Recovery Hub which would be interconnected to other existing and potential textile reuse and repurposing activities as illustrated below:

Ideas and resources

• The op shop in Shannon has hugely reduced their textiles going to landfill, partly by their purchase of a rag cutter, along with gifting items not used to other op shops and having cheap sales (fill a bag for $1) Well done!
• Remakery in Lower Hutt: a fun fabric and sewing supplies market where you can shop for vintage and modern sewing and upholstery fabric, patterns, haberdashery and more. It brings the sewing community together to share stashes, stories, and delight in our mutual love of textiles. All profits to local hospice Sew Good Collective — Common Unity
• Fabric-a-brac offer a fun fabric and sewing supplies market where you can shop for vintage and modern sewing and upholstery fabric, patterns, haberdashery and more. It brings the sewing community together to share stashes, stories, and delight in our mutual love of textiles. All profits to local hospice Palmerston North – Fabric-a-brac
• Red Cross Curtain bank on Main Street Palmerston North donate curtains Get warm curtains | New Zealand Red Cross
• Ngā Ringa Maha Collective: make blankets, quilts, clothes, pyjamas from donated or second-hand materials Nga Ringa Maha Collective | Facebook
• Upcycled Refashion Rebels: Upcycled Sewing Rebels who offer online peer support from fellow crafters, creative inspiration, and freelance/side hustle development.

Challenges: inviting ideas 

• Shoe repair and recycling: the local Manawatū cobblers are celebrated and there is keenness for these valuable artisanal skills to be retained in the region. What can be done for these skills to be learnt and championed?