Public Thread is revolutionizing material sustainability, especially with its billboard bag line of upcycled products. By partnering with some of the biggest names in fashion and furniture, like Steelcase, Chaco, Adams Advertising, and Outfront Media, Public Thread has crafted sturdy and fashionable tote bags from repurposed billboard vinyl that speaks to both style and function. Through precise hand sewing and dedicated ingenuity, Public Thread is creating one-of-a-kind bags and items beneficial to both consumers and the environment.
Upcycling Textiles with Precision
Public Thread is a woman-owned textile upcycling company based in Grand Rapids that has been transforming surplus and scrap textiles sourced from some of the biggest names in furniture and fashion into sewn products since 2020. This is thanks to the collaboration between Public Thread and Woodward Corner Market, which has continued strong ever since its inception. Each billboard bag is crafted with precision by expert sewists who work diligently to cut, sew, stitch, and package each one by hand, right here in Grand Rapids. It’s amazing what can be achieved with a little ingenuity!
Upcycling and Sustainability
Public Thread: Pioneers of Upcycling and Environmental Sustainability
Public Thread is a leader in upcycling products and environmental sustainability. Founded by Janay Brouwer and Chief Operating Officer Lisa Knight, they have partnered with some of the most successful and well-known manufacturers, designers, artists, and entrepreneurs to create stylish and functional sustainable alternatives.
Repurposing Materials for Reusable Products
Public Thread repurposes materials like billboard vinyl into reusable grocery shopping totes and recycle bags, and transforms Chaco shoe straps into fashionable keychains and tough bag straps. This upcycling process reduces waste, conserves resources, and helps create products that are both stylish and useful.
Partnering with Well-Known Manufacturers
Public Thread has established partnerships with industry giants such as Steelcase, Chaco, Adams Advertising, and Outfront Media. These partnerships help to ensure that Public Thread’s upcycled products are made with the highest quality material and craftsmanship available.
A Commitment to Sustainability
Public Thread is dedicated to making a positive impact on the environment and reducing our collective carbon footprint. By creating innovative and stylish products out of repurposed materials, Public Thread is helping to make sustainability accessible and fashionable.
Public Thread is a leader in upcycling products and environmental sustainability. Founded by Janay Brouwer and Chief Operating Officer Lisa Knight, they have partnered with some of the most successful and well-known manufacturers, designers, artists, and entrepreneurs, including Steelcase, Chaco, Adams Advertising, and Outfront Media. By repurposing materials such as billboard vinyl into reusable grocery shopping totes and recycle bags, and transforming Chaco shoe straps into fashionable keychains and tough bag straps, Public Thread is providing sustainable alternatives that are both stylish and functional.
Transforming Billboards Into Stylish Tote Bags
Public Thread has figured out how to transform a billboard from an advertisement tool into a powerful and fashionable tote bag, all while utilizing heavy-duty vinyl. This billboard canvas is designed to be sturdy and waterproof so that it can hold up to whatever life throws at it. A standard-size billboard is 14 feet high by 48 feet long, and with this material, Public Thread can make up to 70 tote bags! The process of transforming the billboard into these stylish and practical pieces of artwork is complex, but the result is well worth the effort.
Sustainable Advertising with Public Thread
Public Thread is proud to lead the way in sustainable advertising by turning used billboards into unique tote bags. Through their network of trusted supply partners, they can acquire these materials and put them to good use. By thinking about the end-use of their marketing materials and designing billboards with the idea that they will become 70 tote bags, Public Thread is creating a positive environmental impact.
Crafting Unique and Vibrant Products
Public Thread’s team of talented designers and sewists is dedicated to creating unique and vibrant products that reflect the brand. With meticulous attention to detail, they carefully sort through the boards to identify colors, designs, and styles to create truly one-of-a-kind creations. Once the perfect patterns are identified, the material is expertly cut with precision and it’s time to get the sewing machines ready for the next step!
At Public Thread, this sustainable business model of upcycling materials shows the creativity and innovation that drive us to reuse before we recycle. The partnership between Public Thread and their experienced sewists has enabled them to turn previously useless vinyl billboards into sturdy and stylish shopping totes. From Chaco shoe straps or Steelcase fabric swatches, they create functional and fashionable products from every scrap of material. These stylish and practical pieces of artwork protect our environment and bring style to everyday items. Public Thread demonstrates that wearing something fashionable often relies on investing in practices that repurpose what already exists.
