Have you ever been to a conference that handed out tote bags made out of repurposed Olympic banners? What about book bags created from recycled vinyl building wrap? If you can’t answer yes to these questions, it’s likely because you haven’t yet attended an event that sourced their swag from Common Thread.
Common Thread is a cooperative of Canadian non-profit organizations that have sewing programs or are sewing enterprises. The cooperative’s organizational members are committed to providing their employees with fair wages and meaningful, supportive work experiences. Common Thread is able to offer their members a more reliable stream of work by providing brokering and production coordination. All of Common Thread’s items are made in Canada from repurposed street banners and other recycled materials. Their products come in a variety designs that are all colourful, durable, washable, and sustainable. From aprons and tote bags, to book covers and drawstring backpacks, there’s sure to be a Common Thread product that meets the needs of your next event.
To find out more about Common Thread, check out their website and follow their parent organization’s updates on Twitter via @CommonThreadVan.
Ps. If you have a favourite Canadian social enterprise to share with us, we’d love to hear from you in the comments section!