On any given weekend in Philly, you’ll spot it: racks rolling out onto sidewalks, thrift pop-ups in cafés, people digging for treasures in vintage bins. What looks like a trend is actually something bigger – thousands of Philadelphians taking part in the circular economy without even realizing it.
This episode, hosts Candice Lawton and Sam Wittchen explore what really happens to our clothes once we’re done with them – and why textile “recycling” is far more complicated than it sounds. Former textile recycler (and now Circle Compost co-founder) David Bloovman explains how donated clothing is sorted, resold, downcycled into rags, or shredded into fiber, and how fast fashion has overwhelmed every step of the process.
Then we turn to Philly businesses offering better ways to keep clothing in use. At Another Chance, owner Holly Heenan shows how consignment extends the life of quality pieces while supporting local makers. And on Fabric Row, Stitch and Destroy founder Haven DeAngelis demonstrates how upcycling, clothing swaps, and sewing skills transform damaged or unwanted textiles into one-of-a-kind garments – proving that our closets can be powerful tools for change.
After this episode, one thing becomes clear: keeping clothing in circulation isn’t just a personal choice – it strengthens local businesses, cuts down on textile waste, and helps build a more resilient, reuse-driven Philly.
Featured:
David Bloovman is the founder of Circle Compost and the former president of the Secondary Materials and Recycled Textiles (SMART) Association. With over a decade of experience in textile recycling, David offers insight into clothing collection systems, sorting pathways, fiber recovery, and how fast fashion has strained existing recycling markets.
Holly Heenan is the owner of Another Chance, a consignment and local-creators boutique in Fishtown that keeps pre-loved fashion in circulation while supporting neighborhood makers and shoppers. Learn more on Instagram at @anotherchance_fishtown.
Haven DeAngelis is the founder of Stitch and Destroy, an upcycled alternative fashion brand and storefront on Fabric Row. Using textile waste, vintage pieces, and deadstock, Stitch and Destroy creates one-of-a-kind garments, hosts clothing swaps and workshops, and showcases work from local reuse-focused artists. Learn more at stitchanddestroy.com.
To learn more about the circular economy and support Circular Philadelphia’s work to transform waste and resource systems for all, visit circularphiladelphia.org.
