Women Making Fashion - Strengthening the Upcycled Fashion Ecosystem in the DMV
From Textile Waste to Local Fashion Opportunity
What if the clothes and textiles we discard could become the starting point for a new local fashion economy?
The DC Metro Area generates at least 225,000 tons of textile waste per year. It also has creative talent, entrepreneurial energy, and valuable materials that could be given a second life.
But turning reclaimed textiles into commercially viable fashion products requires more than good ideas. It requires connections between brands, makers, manufacturers, suppliers, and marketers.
On November 20, we'll bring these people together to explore how reclaimed materials can create new upcycled* products, business opportunities, and stronger local partnerships—with women playing a leading role.
*"Upcycled" encompasses the use of existing finished items, fabric leftovers or deadstock that otherwise might be considered "waste" in the creation of re-manufactured and manufactured clothing, shoes and accessories inventory for sale, and prevents the use of virgin raw materials in the process.
What would it take to strengthen a more connected, local fashion ecosystem using reclaimed materials in the DC Metro Area?
That is the central question for this hands-on convening, a working day for the people who power fashion.
You'll map the region’s assets and connections, identify what is getting in the way, and find practical ways to work together. Bring your expertise. Bring your challenges. Bring what you can contribute.
Who Should Attend?**
Calling all fashion brands, designers, garment manufacturers, makers, resellers, waste textile suppliers, marketers, retailers!
Designers and Brands
Are you already upcycling? Want to bring remanufacturing to scale? Are you considering incorporating upcycling? Find local sourcing, production and partnership opportunities. Test ideas with people who understand the realities of making and selling upcycled or remanufactured fashion.
Garment Manufacturers & Makers
Are you already set up to use reclaimed materials? Are you interested to see the opportunities to do so? Put your capabilities on the map. Help brands understand what is—and isn't—possible locally, and identify opportunities for new production relationships.
Fashion and Textile Resellers and Suppliers
Connect your materials and waste streams with designers, brands and manufacturers looking for practical applications.
Marketers & Retailers
Help shape upcycled products and business models that customers will actually want to buy.
**Due to limited space, registration is subject to approval.
What Will Happen at the Convening?
Throughout the day, we will work our way through the fashion value chain:
MATERIAL → PRODUCT → COSTING → MARKET → LEGAL → ECOSYSTEM
Expect hands-on exercises, real products and materials, case studies, candid conversations about production and margins, and facilitated ecosystem mapping, powered by the people in the room.
You may be asked to:
Identify materials, capabilities or resources you can bring to the ecosystem
Help assess real sourcing, production and marketing challenges
Pressure-test the economics of local upcycled and remanufactured production
Share what your business needs to grow and identify missing partners and capabilities
Connect with potential collaborators and explore opportunities for follow-on collaboration
Help shape a practical DMV fashion ecosystem map
The day is anchored by a real product challenge and designed to generate useful outputs—not just inspiration or policy talk.
If you would like to exhibit at the UPCYCLED MAKER SHOWCASE (available 10 am to 5 pm,) fill in interest form here.
What's the Agenda?***
Each session is participatory with sparks from resource organizations
MORNING (9 am to 1 pm)
Session 1 - Sourcing
Resource Organizations:
Left Knee Patch, MD
Session 2 - Product
Resource Organizations:
Hocking Hills Garment Center, OH
Open Works, MD
Session 3 - Margin Lab
Resource Organizations:
Borsa Studio, MD
Javier Mule, TEDCO, MD
Upcycled Maker Showcase (10 am to 5 pm)
AFTERNOON (1 pm to 5 pm)
Session 4 - Marketing
Resource Organizations:
Retail Women in Tech, national
Colour of Retail, DC
Session 5 - Legal Risks
Resource Organizations:
American University Law Clinic, DC
Hocking Hills Garment Center, OH
Session 6 - Ecosystem Mapping
Resource Organizations:
The Re/FASHION Alliance, DC
Open Works, MD
***If you can't attend, you can still receive the Key Take Aways and stay on our list for future events. Sign up here
Notes:
Space is limited. Register today.
The day will include light bites and beverages. You are welcome to bring your own food or drinks as well.
When your registration application is accepted, we will ask for a small fee of $20 to secure your space and cover convening expenses.
By registering, you agree to share your contacts with the other participants.
This is a follow on event to Sustainable Fashion Day at DC Climate Week in April 2026.
Sponsored By
Lutron, the global leader in human centered lighting and controls.
Hosted By
Borsa Studio is personal styling with a European Eye, beginning with the clothes you already own.
Left Knee Patch is both the movement toward conscious, carefree and confident clothing choices for kids, and a brand of preplayed kids’ clothes that celebrate real life: they’re worn, sometimes patched, and always full of character.
Women for Women’s Wear is the community that helps women in the US find and buy ethical and sustainable fashion designed and made by women more easily. We curate brands, map cities and run fun events.
In collaboration with
COR Re/FASHION, incubating sustainable fashion entrepreneurs across the District, Maryland, and Virginia (DMV) region, supporting circular design and eco-friendly local makers, led by Colour of Retail (COR).
French American Chamber of Commerce - Women in Leadership, the membership organization to empower successful business relationships between French and American professionals.
Open Works Baltimore, rebuilding Baltimore’s manufacturing economy from the grassroots up — one maker at a time! Supporting makers wherever they are on their journey — learning new skills, launching new businesses, or building new relationships in Baltimore’s largest creative community.
Retail Women in Tech (RWIT), the cross-sector, multi-generational movement to strengthen mobility and secure parity in retail tech by 2030. It's where women and allies connect and accelerate their careers and the workforce together.
Sewing Lab, the award-winning sustainability sewing school in Herndon, VA.
The Fashion Connection, building connections and creating resources to advance the growth of the U.S. sustainable fashion movement through advocacy, research, and industry collaboration.
The ReFashion Alliance, the community of artists, makers, and creative entrepreneurs across the DMV region working to strengthen a circular textile ecosystem.
**This is an off-the record event. It will be recorded by the organizers but we ask participants not to video the event. Photos may be taken. Chatham house rules apply: participants are free to use the information received but neither the identity nor the affiliation of participants may be revealed.