Before Stitching

Growling Stitch grew out of a research project that started in the basement lab at the University of Alberta. Together with fellow researchers, we examined thousands of garments donated to thrift stores in partnership with our local MCC and Goodwill locations.

What we discovered was eye-opening. While many donations were in excellent condition, nearly half were categorised as “substandard” — items with stains, tears, or signs of wear that made them unsuitable for resale. These garments were often set aside, destined to be downcycled or discarded. Yet, in many cases, their flaws were not permanent; with cleaning or repair, they could be given another life.

Our team launched the Treat & Clean pilot project, published at the PLATE 2025 Conference, to explore simple methods such as stain removal, mending, and fabric care. The results showed that a significant portion of these “unsellable” clothes could be restored and returned to the racks. Cotton and polyester, in particular, responded well to treatment. The project proved that what is often dismissed as waste still holds potential if we choose to see it differently.

This realisation became the seed for Growling Stitch. If thrift stores cannot restore every garment, then those items can be reimagined instead of discarded. Each piece we create now begins with what others left behind: damaged jeans, stretched sweaters, stained cotton shirts. They are not waste, but raw material for storytelling.

Growling Stitch carries forward the lessons of that basement lab and those bins of thrift store donations. Every garment is a reminder that imperfection is not the end, but a beginning. What was once rejected can become something treasured, stitched with love, memory, and renewal.