Threads for Care
Threads for Care is Dorothy House's new umbrella brand of sustainable collaborations with local makers and up-cyclers, designed to reduce waste and fund vital end of life care.
We are delighted to be collaborating with talented local makers who are transforming unsaleable stock to create beautiful items we can sell in our shops. Their creativity injects new life into discarded clothing and fabrics, resulting in one-of-a-kind pieces.
These partnerships are now more important than ever for Dorothy House with increasing wastage costs. Every year, it costs Dorothy House £70,000 to recycle and dispose of donated items which are in an unsaleable condition. These are vital funds that should be spent on delivering hospice care in our community.
We are so grateful to Amy and Sharon who have dedicated their time to supporting Dorothy House. Their small acts of kindness and craftsmanship will make a big difference in supporting patient care across Bath and Northeast Somerset and parts of Somerset and Wiltshire.
Amy Laws, There's Only One
Reworking second hand clothing with hand screened printed designs
"My aim has been to take the secondhand, fast fashion garments that have no value and turn them into an entirely one off piece that will hopefully be looked after for years to come."
Amy Laws is a local hand screen printer and applique artist who is reworking t-shirts, hoodies and shirts from our rag waste bins into a beautiful, bespoke new range. You can find Amy’s new Dorothy House collection in Argyle Street, Bath, Frome Clothes and our Find Ubiety lifestyle store from 15 September.
You can now shop Amy's t-shirts here.
Sharon Goold, Eco Bunting
Up-cycling rag waste into bespoke shirts and bags
Alongside Amy’s creations, Threads for Care will also feature bespoke pieces created by Sharon Goold from Eco Bunting. Sharon has previously worked with Dorothy House, using rag waste to create reusable, fully lined bags which have been sold at our monthly Warehouse sales. Sharon’s contribution to Threads for Care will include a selection of unique clothing pieces created unsaleable fabrics, as well as even more of her fabulous bespoke bags, which will be available for purchase at our Pop-Up shop based in The Shires in Trowbridge.
By reworking clothing that we cannot sell, Amy and Sharon are not only helping us to reduce the number of items going to landfill, but they are also helping us save money that can fund vital end of life care across our 800 square miles.
Paige Blackwell, PB Textiles
A collection of sustainable and stylish denim pieces
Paige creates unique, sustainable clothing and accessories out of repurposed materials sourced from family, friends, and local charity shops. All the products she creates are hand-sewn and screen-printed with care, designed to be sustainable and stylish, as well as offering a one-of-a-kind alternative to fast fashion. Paige also credits her family as a huge part of her business, helping with everything from pattern cutting and sourcing materials to creating stands for markets.
Under the Threads for Care brand, Paige will be creating a range of re-worked denim items that will be sold in our Find Ubiety shop in Bath and our Pop-Up shop based in The Shires in Trowbridge. This will include a selection of denim jackets and skirts, as well as pocket bags, denim scrunchies and re-worked jewellery, all created from waste fabrics. In addition to her passion for sustainable fashion, Paige also has a personal connection to Dorothy House. Before starting her textiles degree ten years ago, she and her brother volunteered with us. Around the same time, a family member was being cared for by our team.
“Working with Dorothy House is a full-circle moment for me. Now that I’ve taken my business full time, this collaboration feels like the perfect way to start expanding my customer base while supporting a charity that’s always been close to my heart.
Through these reworked pieces, I want shoppers to feel confident, individual, and connected to something bigger. Each garment is one-of-a-kind and made with purpose. On a wider level, reworking clothes is about more than fashion, it’s a step towards more thoughtful consumption and creating positive impact through creativit
Calling all local makers!
If you're a local artisan, designer or craftsperson with a passion for sustainability and community, we'd love to collaborate!
We would love to hear from creative individuals who can support Dorothy House by transforming our rag waste into something new and inspiring. Whether your craft is clothing, homeware or something completely bespoke, please get in touch today by emailing comms@dorothyhouse-hospice.org.uk.
We look forward to hearing from you!