Fabric Donation

Fabric waste is a huge problem for the environment. Fabric donation is one of the best way to save textiles from landfill and incineration. Please read below how you can donate fabrics to FRP.

Fabric and Haberdashery

Donation to FRP

Our aim is to reduce the impact of fabric wastage and fabrics going to landfill or incineration. Donated fabrics are used by the charity to teach volunteers from the community new skills in sewing and craft, or they are sold affordably to the community in our shop, giving the fabric a second life and generating funds for the charity.

Thank you for considering a donation to the Forest Recycling Project!

We appreciate your willingness to support our cause by giving textiles second life instead of discarding them. By donating your unwanted fabric and haberdashery, you help empower local communities as well as have a positive impact on the environment.

While we’re grateful for your generosity, our storage capacity is limited. For this reason, we can accept only certain types and quality of the textiles that will be most useful to our community and align with our charity’s needs.

***WE MAY NOT BE ABLE TO ACCEPT YOUR FABRIC AND HABERDASHERY DONATION IMMEDIATELY***

The great news is that we have recently received lots of amazing donations but the downside to this is that our limited storage area can become quite full. We also know what our community are taking from us and will always try to match donations with things we know that we should be able distribute. As a result, we may not always be able to take your donation, but please do get in touch because we’d love to hear from you.

A table full of groups of scraps of fabric prepared for embroidery patchwork.

What we can’t accept 

What we do not take?

We do not take things that we are unable to reclaim and put back into the community ourselves, because we are dedicated to reclaim and redistribution.  This means that there are instances where somewhere else might be a better place to recycle textile items.

We do not take clothing, curtains, tablecloths, bedding or other already made items.

We do not take very small pieces.

See below for some ideas of where to recycle things we cannot take.

How to Donate Fabric to FRP?

 

Please send the following details to fabric@frpuk.org and we will get back to you as soon as we can.

  1. Fabric types, sizes, composition, intended usage, colour, and quantity and attach pictures.
  2. Descriptions of any other items – craft items, wool, or haberdashery.
  3. Provide your phone number, address and postcode and whether you can deliver the donation.

The more information you can provide, the more you help us to respond to you quickly.

Benefits of Donating Fabrics:
 By donating your fabrics, you help reduce the environmental impact of textile waste and support our mission to create sustainable products for the community. Your contribution helps us continue to provide resources for upcycling and repurposing textiles in creative ways.

Where can I give away or recycle items that FRP cannot take?

Please check the North London Waste Authority website for ideas of where else you can donate or recycle a wide range of items locally.

Also, a range of local reuse, reclaim and repair projects are listed in the Waltham Forest Directory that we helped to create in 2024:  https://frpuk.org/community-work/directory/

You can also try:

  • Consider facebook groups. For example, if you are in Walthamstow and on facebook the Walthamstow Sell or Swap group might be worth joining, other areas probably have similar groups. You may also have local resident WhatsApp groups you could try.
  • Ferris is a Zero Waste App for giving and getting once-loved items for free. You can declutter your home, save great stuff from disposal and pick up items from your neighbour for free. Ferris is available on the App Store and Google Play Store.
  • TipTapp is a company that helps you move items in and out of your home, get rid of things and get giveaways delivered to your doorstep. Tiptapp is also available on the App Store and Google Play Store.
  • Reuse swapping sites such as Freecycle or Freegle allows you to give items away and also seek unwanted goods in your local area.
  • LoveJunk is a waste removal marketplace which helps you to find the cheapest collector for bulky waste. You can also get preloved items like furniture, appliances, mattresses and building materials for free.
  • OLIO is an app which allows you to give away food and other household items to your neighbours, all for free. Olio is also available on the App Store and Google Play Store.