〰️
coming soon
✷ to auStin, tExas!
〰️ coming soon ✷ to auStin, tExas!
they say everything’s
Bigger in tExas!
Well so is our tExtile waste
But textile waste is a problem bigger than Texas. Textile production is estimated to be responsible for about 20% of global clean water pollution from dyeing and finishing products. 85% of all textiles go to dumps each year which often ends up becoming a burden on vulnerable communities.
Whats the problem?
Putting the onus on consumers and telling us to buy less is only going to get us so far. We’ve all become accustomed to this consumption based society. While large scale habit changes are desperately need, those take time.
But that’s where we come in! We are partnering with local charities around Austin, TX (and beyond) to intercept the estimated 14,869,333 lbs (7,435 tons) of clothing that are shipping out of Austin and sent overseas to landfills every MONTH. Goodwill of Austin alone will ship off an estimated 1 million pounds every month.
I know, its gross. But that’s where we come in.
how does it work?
Coming Soon to Austin, Texas!
we’re building a ✹ tExtile recycling facility & hUb for tRansfOrmAtion.
We’re here to redefine the word “waste.”
What others discard, we transform. Your unusable clothes become valuable materials with endless potential—remade jackets, stuffed animals, home insulation, couch stuffing, and whatever else we can dream up.
The narrative of doom feels overwhelming these days, but we’re here to flip the script. Material Union exists to inspire action and spark hope by showing that creative ingenuity and community can lead to real, sustainable solutions.
By summer 2025, we aim to open our warehouse, storefront, and community center.
Our warehouse is the heart of this journey, where we’ll sort, process, and reimagine textiles no one wants into eco-friendly products for the home. But we’re not stopping there—our vision includes a vibrant space for reuse and connection.
Marketplace: Selling locally made products crafted by people in Austin, paid fair wages.
Workshop: Offering affordable classes, workshops, and hosting free mending nights.
Community Hub & Event Space: A place where those of us who are keeping Austin weird can come together to learn, redistribute resources, get free clothes, and build Austin’s circular economy.
We believe in solutions where everyone wins—our planet, our community, and our future. Join us on this journey to redefine what’s possible. Together, we can make things better for our homes, our city, and our planet.
OUR STORY
it all started with a Quilt cOat.
I found a woman in Bastrop, TX selling her grandmother’s old quilts because over the years they’d gotten holes and weren’t very useable.
I saw a new life possible for these heirloom pieces. And with love, crafted an upcycled coat for a dear friend. This got me thinking about how many textiles get thrown away, instead of finding new life.
So we set out to do something about it.
— Christa Marie Clark, Founder and Design Director
