ECHO Handmade leverages the abundant resource of discarded clothing by transforming donated items into new pieces, a practice known as circular fashion. An item exists as something until it is repurposed and given new life. Shopping at ECHO Handmade puts into practice the phrase “think globally, act locally” as the environment and ecological impact of wasted clothing is further reduced by their upcycling of discarded items. This much-needed philosophy is powered directly by people in our community who are unemployed or underemployed.
The prices for these donated items and upcycled treasures are quite affordable. This is because it doesn’t take a lot of money to make a significant impact: Every $10 purchase feeds a family of five. It may all sound a little too good to be true, but sometimes the truth is unbelievably good. Every item in the store has been donated, so the money spent by customers in the shop goes directly to impacting families in need in our Bay area communities.
The items available in the shop range widely from formal or prom-type dresses to vintage denim jackets to blazers, jewelry, and more. The selection is rich with variety and quality — you can find name-brand clothing here for a fraction of its regular pricing because everything has been donated. The ECHO Handmade leather cuffs crafted by the artisans in the on-site workshop have a unique charm to them as old leather belts are reinvented to carry a message of hope or optimism that was placed there by someone who needed the footing provided by an opportunity to work.
These artisans are selected from the larger parent organization ECHO and its workforce development programs. This includes GED classes and work-skills opportunities to assist people who can benefit tremendously from learning something new and substantial to contribute to the workforce. One such artisan is named Roslyn Johnson, whose face was beaming as she described working with her “second family” at ECHO Handmade. “ECHO has changed my life. It’s a great environment to be in and I am always learning new things,” she says. She tells me about her plans to start her own business while working on a new Legacy Line item.
The Legacy Line transforms something personal into a new, custom item, allowing the spirit of a loved one to be kept close in a creative, unique manner. Roslyn is crafting a messenger bag from a customer’s father’s old leather motorcycle jacket; other projects include taking a mother’s heavy trench coat and crafting three bags from it for her daughters. These stories illustrate how clothing can be layered in memories and the compelling power of giving new life to such memories that will last for generations.
In addition to reinventing personal treasures, the workshop at ECHO Handmade repurposes old ties as straps for cross-body bags. These tie-bags vary in pattern and style, but each one has a whimsical quality that is sure to be a fashionable statement. There is a selection of these bags in the Boutique and an ongoing call for vintage tie donations, but it’s also another opportunity to convert a memory into a practical and personal item.
Eleanor Saunders, Executive Director of ECHO, describes the changes that ECHO Handmade has created in our community. “We are an incubator for entrepreneurs,” she says. “We’ve gone from having the workshop space for our artisans open and available only one day a week to having it open while the Boutique is open.” The stability of this on-premises workspace further emphasizes the stability that ECHO aims to provide to its artisans; having a permanent workshop space also allows for more opportunities to shop. Every purchase helps end hunger, directly and effectively in our community.
Shirley Tucker is a volunteer and works with Johnson in the workshop and explains the meaning of upcycling everything, “ECHO Handmade allows us to break the chains of poverty by teaching self-sufficiency,” Tucker says. “The organization really watches out for people in hard times.” Shopping at the ECHO Boutique, whether in person or online, is truly a win-win-win situation: You are making an impact on our community by putting artisans to work and feeding a family of five for every $10 spent, preventing discarded clothing from ending up in landfills, and adding fantastic pieces to your wardrobe.
ECHO Boutique is offering a 20% discount to teachers from now through August 10 — just another illustration of how this organization cares about its community. The Boutique is located across from Brandon Mall at 948 W. Brandon Blvd.; there is ample parking, and the staff is wonderful. Poke your head into the workshop space to meet the people behind ECHO Handmade and see meaningful transformations happen. Next time you need a new shirt, go to ECHO Boutique and “Purchase with Purpose!”
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This article appears in Aug 8-15, 2019.