Why a Mosaic?
This concept has a lot more thought behind it than just a beautiful outcome.
While cutting out fabric for our products we noticed some scrap pieces that were too lovely to throw out but too small to use for a full product. We then started to notice just how much waste we were creating in order to match patterns. After some research, we discovered how big of a problem textile waste creates.
Before we talk about the beautiful outcome, here are some surprising facts about textile waste.
- The volume of clothing Americans throw away each year has doubled in the last 20 years, from 7 million to 14 million TONS.
- Textiles can take up to 200+ years to decompose in landfills
- The EPA estimates that in 2017, of the 16.9 million tons of textile waste generated in the United States, only 15.2% was recycled, which results in 11.2 million tons of textile waste ending up in landfills.
So along came The Mosaic Line! Each of these pieces are designed and handcrafted by our seamstresses and volunteers. We start by sorting our piles of scraps into different color stories and aesthetics. Once we have a pile that feels pulled together and complete, we decide what fabric sits where (usually depending on how much we have of it) and patch it together. Not only are we creating something beautiful out of what would otherwise be waste, we are also creating truly one-of-a-kind products for our one-of-a-kind customers!
When shopping online, you will find currently available pieces, sewn and ready to go OR you can choose a mystery option! The mystery options are available right now in zafus. You get to choose your color story and let us do the rest! We will let you know when it is done and ready for you to pick up and see for the first time! The mysteries are so much fun for us to make because we get to let our creativity run wild while still having the parameters of a color story. A great design challenge for our brains and a beautiful new piece for your home!