Meet Lisa Dix of Upcycle Fabrics in Tempe

Today we’d like to introduce you to Lisa Dix.

Thanks for sharing your story with us Lisa. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
I recently quit my profession as a Cytogenetic Technologist of 19 years and I was looking for something to peak my interest in making a difference in the world, I figured this Masters program in Humane Education would help me. The second class that I enrolled in was called Environmental Ethics and we were required to read the book Cradle to Cradle and I fell in love with the circular economy concept and wanted to become a part of it. At the same time, I had started volunteering with FABRIC, a fashion incubator in Tempe and they needed help with their Eco fashion week in a few months, and so I just started doing more and more research about textile waste. I had these visions about what I could do to make a difference, and somewhere how we could make scraps available to people who may upcycle. I came across FabScrap and then FabMo and saw that others had the same idea that I have. But I would even like to go deeper and find ways to utilize ripped and stained textiles, possibly turning it into rags. So, that is my new mission.

Has it been a smooth road?
Nope, trying to make a difference is very exhausting and overwhelming. It was easy to collect new fabric pieces but I needed to get rid of it just as fast and then, of course, the money aspect of it. I am always trying to meet with others to see how this can become a reality.

Tell us more about your work.
I was just collecting unwanted used towels and new fabric scraps and or pieces. I would redistribute the used towels to about 10 local animal shelters after I realized that others may not want to reuse them. I then was trying to advertise the new fabric pieces to others who upcycle as just a small sewing production or even fashion designers who upcycle. I collected over 1000 pounds in three months from only about three to five people and places.

How do you think the industry will change over the next decade?
I am trying to figure that out now. How I can work with others and make all this new fabric available and known to fashion designers, promoting sustainable fabrics if possible and then finding ways to use up stained clothes or towels into rags. We should not really have to make rags for automotive or the bar industry from new fabric, we have lots of waste.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://upcyclefabrics.wixsite.com/upcyclefabrics
• Email: upcyclefabrics@gmail.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/upcyclefabricsaz/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/upcyclefabricsaz/
• Other: https://www.pinterest.com/dix0255/

Suggest a story: VoyagePhoenix is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.