When we first started Project Repat, our goal was simple: transform treasured old t-shirts into quilts that people could wrap themselves in. Since 2012, we’ve crafted over a million of these custom quilts at a worker-owned factory in North Carolina, keeping memories alive in a meaningful way. But as we created more and more blankets, we found ourselves facing a new challenge: a growing pile of leftover t-shirt scraps—thousands of pounds of them, in fact.
We could have sent those scraps off to become part of the 5% of global waste created by textiles every year. But that didn’t sit right with us. Instead, we saw it as a chance to do things differently—a way to rethink what sustainable fashion could look like. And that’s how Scrappy Socks started.
Working with Material Return and Opportunity Threads, both nearby partners who share our values, we developed a way to turn those scraps into something new, valuable, and fully recycled. By keeping everything close to home, we’re not just reducing waste; we’re building a local circular economy that supports regional jobs, sustains our community, and keeps the environmental impact low. In a world where sustainability often comes with a high price tag, we set out to create a quality, 100% recycled product that could actually compete on price with less-sustainable alternatives.
With Scrappy Socks, we’re doing something that’s still rare in fashion: sourcing, producing, and selling sustainably—all within the same region. This kind of “tight circle” approach doesn’t just reduce waste; it also cuts down on the carbon footprint of long supply chains, shortens production times, and provides economic stability for local workers. A regional approach ensures that every step, from sourcing materials to delivering the final product, actively supports the community.
What we’re learning through Scrappy Socks is that the future of fashion doesn’t have to be big, global, or wasteful. It can be small, local, and intentional. By using resources close to home and building products within a circular model, brands can reduce waste, support communities, and make sustainability achievable for all. Localized circularity not only reduces environmental impact but also builds resilience, showing that sustainable fashion can indeed be accessible and impactful when centered around community needs.
Author: Ross Lohr
