Today I wanted to put a spotlight on my Reimagined Remnants range.
The pieces in this collection, might be small, but they are mighty in their impact.
As most of us are these days, I am always trying to do my bit for the environment. whether it be switching my cleaning products to eco friendly ones, avoiding certain products in unnecessary plastic wrapping, growing our own fruit and vegetables etc etc. This desire to do better also feeds in to my business, in choosing the most sustainable fibre on the planet to work with, packaging in recycled and recyclable/ reusable materials and supporting other British businesses where I can.
I truly believe that it is a case of everyone trying to make small changes where they can that will make the difference over a few people trying to be perfect.
The Reimagined Remnants range is a result of just that - trying to find another little thing I can do to work in a better, more efficient and sustainable way.
Unfortunately, wastage is a bit of an inevitability in my practice. There's always some parts of a warp that cant be woven, I always have to put extra length on my warps to accommodate this and 'take up' (the amount of warp taken up just by putting weft threads through it - causing it to no longer be a straight thread but one that travels under and over another thread), and so there is often some extra warp that CAN be woven but isn't big enough to produce any of my larger products from. Then you have remnant fabrics created in the process of making things such as flat caps, winter headbands etc.
I have very rarely, if ever, thrown these odds and ends away. So as you can imagine, after nearly 10 years of Fruitbat Textiles, there is quite a good stash of remnant yarn and fabrics, and so I am always trying to think of ways to best make use of these.
The yarn always gets brought to workshops to use on the frame looms, and I have recently started creating my own range of frame loom woven art works.
The fabric, I have played with many different product idea over the years. Some have been a great success and are now firm favourites within the range today, such as the cufflinks and bangles. Other ideas have been less successful, or just take far too long and require too much in terms of extra materials etc. to make them a worthwhile addition. However, the range I currently have for this collection is the best yet. They are all well loved by me, customers at in person events, my wholesale customers and online.
They are all beautiful, each one completely unique, and most importantly functional, stylish and timeless. Making them the perfect addition to the Fruitbat Textiles product range. I am so proud of every single product in the range.
Not only are they there to help me work in a more sustainable way, but they also offer a more accessible way of owning a little bit of Fruitbat Textiles if you aren't able to invest in one of my main, larger pieces such as the scarves. They make fantastic gifts, whether to mark a special occasion with a keep sake, or just to make someone smile.
To keep them on the sustainable theme, as with all of my products, they are also presented in thoughtful packaging, made from recycled and recyclable/ re-usable materials, offering the perfect way to keep your items safe when not in use and ensure they are looking their best long term.
I hope you've enjoyed this little insight in to how this range came about, and I hope you love them as much as I do!!
Hopefully I'll be seeing lots of lovely photos and reviews from you all in your Reimagined Remnants pieces very soon!!
(PS. If you are reading this and you have a textile business and you are also looking to make use of your smaller offcuts, I'd love to help you by creating your own range of jewellery and keepsakes for your brand - please do send an email if you'd like to chat - fruitbattextiles@gmail.com)