One of the things that inspires us at Mannequin Madness is discovering organizations that help keep perfectly usable materials in circulation instead of sending them to landfills. Many of the faux flowers like in the photo below that we offer in our flower crown experiences are sourced from creative reuse organizations such as SCRAP SF and Texas Art Asylum.
Creative reuse centers collect and redistribute donated materials that artists, teachers, nonprofits, students, makers, and small businesses can purchase at affordable prices, giving those materials a second life instead of letting them go to waste.
Their mission closely aligns with our. While we specialize in giving mannequins and retail display fixtures a second life, creative reuse centers extend that same circular economy mindset to countless other materials. They remind us that sustainability isn’t just about recycling. It’s about recognizing the value in items that still have a story to tell.
We have purchased all kinds of embellishments and crafting materials that the participants in our flower crown classes repurpose in unique ways.
And not all of the items at creative reuse centers are second hand. Sometimes they have brand new item which were discontinued items, product overruns or the leftovers from a company that went out of business.
I purchased a large quantity of cartons these brand new butterflies in an assortment of colors at Texas Art Asylum for our flower crown class. They have an Etsy store but I prefer to visit them every time I am in the Houston Area as their facility is HUGE and there are treasures you can find there that aren’t posted online.
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Whether you’re an artist, educator, nonprofit, maker, or simply someone who enjoys creating, visiting a creative reuse center can be an inspiring experience. You never know what you’ll discover, and every purchase helps support organizations that are making a positive environmental impact in their communities.
I am a big fan of the blog, Sadie Seasongoods, a wonderful resource devoted to creative reuse, upcycling, and sustainable living. Her blog tagline is “living a first class life with second hand things.”
Her article, “Finding a Creative Reuse Center Near You” lists a directory of reuse centers all over the U.S. Whether you’re looking for inexpensive art supplies, materials for a DIY project, or simply want to support the circular economy, it’s an excellent place to begin your search.
Visit our website to shop for mannequins and dress forms, rent display pieces, or recycle your old mannequins.
