The Textile Reuse Hub 2023 - 2025
The Yodomo Textile Reuse Hub at 121 Monier Rd, Hackney Wick, was Yodomo's space for research, design, and community from 2023 - 2025. It promoted circular economy approaches to fashion and making whilst simultaneously supporting young people from the local area to establish their own creative businesses using sustainable approaches.
The space was generously provided by The Trampery and Peabody, and secured through the Hackney Wick and Fish Island Community Development Trust (HWFI CDT). A capital grant from the Mayor of London funded workshop equipment including a cutting table, sewing machines and a weaving loom.
Between 2023 and 2025, the Textile Reuse Hub:
- Diverted over 13 tonnes of textile waste from landfill, incineration or downgrading — saving an estimated 44.2 tonnes of CO₂e
- Received donations from over 50 businesses across the fashion and textiles industries, via more than 80 deliveries
- Welcomed over 1,100 people to source materials for reuse in creative projects
Delivered 57 events, issuing 4,944 bookings (714 paid, 4,230 complimentary) - Supported 15 young makers through the Sustainable Young Makers Programme and Weaving Residency
- Engaged over 160 volunteers in sorting, processing and categorising textile waste
- Grew Yodomo's Creative Reuse Membership to 2,000+ members
The Hub was home to the Sustainable Young Makers Programme, which supported two cohorts of six makers plus three weavers through a dedicated residency, each gaining studio space, specialist machinery, 1-2-1 mentorship with industry leaders from brands including Nike, Vivienne Westwood and Whistles, and a public showcase at The Trampery. Aggregated attendance across the programme's showcase events has topped 300 people, with guests from the Mayor of London's office, ReLondon, the V&A, the Crafts Council and local authorities.
The Hub became a convening space — hosting site visits and research collaborations with UAL: London College of Fashion, Central Saint Martins, the Royal College of Art, Goldsmiths, the University of Westminster, the University of Manchester, Loughborough University and UCL, as well as visits from the Ellen MacArthur Foundation, WRAP, ReLondon, Making for Change and the V&A. International visitors included delegations from Nelson Mandela University in South Africa, the Circular Textile Working Group at the University of Canberra, and Forum Virium in Helsinki. Uma Kumaran, MP for Stratford and Bow, also visited the space.
Three "How to Start a Creative Reuse Hub" workshops trained 30 people from across the UK and Indonesia in setting up their own reuse initiatives, and the Hub ran further sessions on fundraising and investment for circular businesses.
Materials from the Hub supported a wide range of community projects, including creative sessions for palliative care patients at St Joseph's Hospice, and materials for Black Girl Knit Club's yarn bombing installation at Stratford Cross, Braided Traditions: Common Threads.
The success of the demonstrator project informed Hackney Wick CDT's development of The Loop, a new circular economy hub born out of the ReRoute project. Yodomo and Hackney Wick CDT also created the Textile Reuse and Recycling Map for the London Borough of Tower Hamlets, helping residents find local textile banks, repair services and mending workshops. The Hub was also the base for the Textile Garden, a collaboration with Fantasy Fibre Mill, Indigo Works and Our Parklife CIC in Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park.
Yodomo's work from the Hub was recognised with the Marie Claire Sustainability Award for Progress Toward Circularity in 2023/2024, and a Global Wiin Exemplary Special Recognition Award in 2024.
"Access to reclaimed materials at the Hub gave me more than just fabric: it gave me a path forward... Thanks to the Hub, I am now rebuilding a career from scratch, one rooted in sustainability, creativity, and personal fulfilment."
— Luisa Tatoli, The Oakum