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“Finding meaning and delight in the age of waste”  

ReFAB Studio offers creative ways to reduce textile waste by inspiring and empowering community tailors and students to promote circular economies. We focus on upcycling designer remnants from the interior sector while promoting green skills and jobs. Our goal is to combine upcycling and upskilling to deliver environmental, social and economic impact at the community level.  

ReFAB Studio is an initiative of the Kartik Foundation, a registered Charity devoted to supporting youth and disadvantaged communities.

Workshops

UNIVERSITIES AND COMMUNITY COLLEGES

We are delighted to enable students of Fashion, Textiles and Interior Design to engage with the challenge and opportunity of upcycling textile waste from the interior sector. We lead workshops on textile upcycling and upskilling, zero-waste design and circular economy. Recently, we have engaged with students and professors at The Royal College of Art, Imperial College London, LCF UAL and are continually building relationships with institutions across the UK. 

Beyond workshops, we also collaborate with professors and students on research projects aimed towards minimising waste and maximising green skills and jobs. We also welcome young creatives at our studio for informal coffee-mornings to brainstorm innovative ways to deal with interior textile waste.

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COMMUNITY TAILORS

We partner with community tailoring organisations to deliver Upcycling- Upskilling workshops for tailors from disadvantaged communities. The training involves understanding various fabric types and making premium, bespoke products from designer remnants, a skill which can be monetised.

Recently we delivered a series of workshops for the Network of International Women for Brighton and Hove (NIWBH) The Arts Society. https://theartssociety.org After our training, the women are now confidently making and selling beautiful upcycled products in local markets and we are delighted to support them in their onward journey.

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WELLBEING-WORKSHOPS FOR ALL

We are also planning workshops for groups interested in making-by-hand to improve community wellbeing. Disconnecting from devices, playing with our beautiful materials to make lovely pieces, provides relaxation in our often-frenetic world. 

For more information on our workshops please contact hello@refabstudio.org  

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Testimonials

Testimonial Slider

Pammi Sinha, PhD, FHEA

Professor of Fashion Management, University of Leeds.

I believe that any student or educational establishment would benefit from hearing first-hand about ReFAB’s altruistic business model, including aspects of design, skilling, marketing, and business. ReFAB are passionate about their cause, spend a few minutes with them and you will come away energised and wanting to support if not join their mission!

Julieanne Murphy

Manager of The Collective at NIWBH.

The ReFAB workshops also build their confidence, give them a sense of belonging and purpose. Importantly, they prevent the group from being stuck and discouraged and as they begin to relax and enjoy the sessions, they get involved and discuss new ideas, it unlocks change and innovation which is key to their development.

Our Shop

ReFAB studio creates a limited edition of premium bespoke products each year, using the community tailors we have upskilled. These exclusive pieces are all made from designer remnants and sold in select boutiques, pop-ups or here online. 

Welcome to shopping that makes the world better! 

COLLABORATION WITH DESIGNERS

We work with Interior and Textile Designers who are acutely conscious of the challenges of fabric waste in their industry and want to be a part of the solution.  Interior Designers collaborate with us to dispose of remnant fabric responsibly or have the option of commissioning exclusive upcycled pieces made by our upskilled tailors.  

If you are a designer interested in connecting with us, please contact us at hello@refabstudio.org

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CORPORATE GIFTING

Are you an organisation searching for meaningful customised gifts to share with your employees or associates? ReFAB Studio has the perfect solution for you. 

Our beautiful handmade pieces like totes, zip purses and laptop covers are a lovely way to underline your brand or companies’ commitment to the planet and to your community.  Each piece is handmade from recovered designer fabrics by artisans that we have upskilled and carries a clear environmental, economic and social benefit. 

If this sounds interesting, do get in touch at: Hello@refabstudio.org 

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Collaborators

Picture credits to Yeshen, Amy Chen and Georgina