about us

Sarah Tait, Owner, Fabrick Collective, a social enterprise raising money through second hand kids clothing sales

Welcome to Fabrick Collective! I'm Sarah.

Fabrick Collective is a social enterprise that simplifies shopping for secondhand kids' clothes while raising money for the Elizabeth Fry Society of Ottawa in a transparent and direct way.

As a parent to four children, I've dealt with a lot of kids' clothes over the last 10 years. 

After I had twins, the cost of buying new clothing escalated, but getting out to thrift stores and consignment sales was a challenge with four children, let alone during a pandemic.

I've given away a lot of clothes to family, friends, and neighbours because it's quite hard to find organizations that serve women and will accept kids' clothing donations. Many don't have the staff or space to process bulk donations. I had often wished to do more good with our outgrown clothes.

In my previous career as an academic criminologist, I sat with hundreds of prisoners who described the harms caused by their incarceration - the losses of children, family, work, community support, mental and physical health - and the patterns of trauma and systemic exclusion that lead them there. 

I joined the board of the Elizabeth Fry Society of Ottawa (E Fry Ottawa) while at home full-time with my kids to continue this work in the community. I am dedicated to their mission of advocating for and supporting criminalized women and their vision of an inclusive and just community without prisons, in which all women live with equality and dignity.

Thirty per cent of profits are donated to E Fry Ottawa, providing a flexible fund to make their transitional housing feel more like home. To date, we have raised $26 000. Clients and other families in need can access clothing for their children for free through our gift card program, in kind donations to local organizations, and by hosting seasonal clothing swaps.

To be successful, this social enterprise depends on the collective effort of many people - to donate, to buy, and to share what we are doing. Join me in supporting E Fry Ottawa, while giving families a convenient way to shop secondhand for their kids.

Thanks for visiting!

Shop secondhand kids' clothes with purpose

 

 

Sale

Unavailable

Sold Out