Promoting Sustainable Art and Design

     In a society with rampant consumerism where we create so much waste it is rare to find others or businesses that care about the environment or having a positive impact on the community that they are a part of. Recently some businesses have turned from fast fashion to sustainable fashion in which they create limited collections with reclaimed textiles. People are learning to mend in fun ways some of their well-loved items. 

    Remainders Creative Reuse in Pasadena is an art and craft supply store unlike any other. It is a donation center for unused art supplies that can be used by others for less than buying it retail at a regular art supply store. It is a great place to go to and find inspiration in the materials. Just looking through some of the stuff there has helped me look through stuff I have at home differently. Before, I would go to the fashion district in downtown Los Angeles to buy fabric and sewing notions. Now the first place I go to for any sewing or art project is Remainders. Yes, they might not have exactly what I need for a specific project but then that's the time to go to a regular art supply store. although if I am working on a long-term project visiting frequently, I have been able to find exactly what I needed in one of those visits even if I did not find everything at once. 

    Remainders is like an artsy thrift store. Like a thrift store it keeps goods that can still be of use out of landfills. It helps the local community have access to affordable art supplies and create less waste. It also has a second floor where you can rent studio space and tools as well as take classes from sewing to creating sculptures from found objects. 

I really wanted to take pictures of three people and post them on this blog, but it felt unnatural to do so. When I go there, I expect to hear the materials speak to me and tell me what they want to become or at least tell me they have the potential to become something cool through my hands. I could not imagine me interrupting that for someone else. A lady did say hi, so I did kind of start a conversation with her. We talked about how we both attended art school. She is older and said she got pregnant and didn't really pursue a career in the arts but still enjoys creating even if it is just for herself. I did not get her name, but I did get that she is from south Pasadena.