In Miami Beach, Enoch had \u201cregular\u201d dumpsters that he would scavenge. He\u2019d sort through the trash and find usable items for his budding business. The process was tedious and time-consuming. \u201cIt would be a process of finding materials, cleaning them, and transforming them into something new. I like the ritualistic nature of the process and taking my time to appreciate the material for what it is. They just need a little love and patience to be transformed.\u201d<\/p>\n
When he relocated to Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, he found a more direct and cleaner way to obtain his sewing materials. Enoch initiated relationships with local businesses, making deals to procure the discarded materials before they made their way to the dumpster. This made the cleaning process much simpler and saved him a lot of time. He was also able to get a larger quantity of materials with the same amount of effort.<\/p>\n It\u2019s in Harrisburg where his business really got off the ground and his business concept came to life. Enoch witnessed someone\u2019s discarded plastic bag floating in the wind, and that\u2019s how he came up with the name for his business: Reanimator Threadworks. He watched an otherwise lifeless object become transformed \u2014 reanimated if you will \u2014 into a moving, living thing. And that\u2019s exactly what Enoch does. He takes lifeless, used up objects and reanimates them, giving them a second life and another purpose than what they were intended and created for. A torn sun shade becomes part of a backpack. An empty bag of coffee beans is transformed into a truly unique tote bag.<\/p>\n Enoch learned to sew thanks to his mother\u2019s teaching. A requirement of his homeschool curriculum, he started sewing as part of the home economics portion of his education. And now he\u2019s taken that skill and turned it into not only a business but a way to do his part as an environmental advocate.<\/p>\n He sells his bags in local stores and hosts free sewing workshops at farmers markets. \u201cThe goal is to get out in the community and sew materials on the streets. The more people exposed to the power of sewing the more excited I get.\u201d During the winter, when the farmers markets are closed, he collaborates with other environmental advocacy groups and hosts free sewing workshops for sewing panniers, bike bags, backpacks and more.<\/p>\n His bags are constructed using a wide variety of everyday materials. Everything from banners, inflatable rafts, bicycle inner tubes, parachute webbing, vinyl billboard material and more are transformed into \u201cfunctional pieces of art,\u201d as he calls them. It\u2019s amazing the things you can sew with a little imagination and ingenuity. To sew through this wide range of materials, he needed a sewing machine that would be up to the challenge. And that\u2019s where Sailrite came in.<\/p>\n \u201cI learned about Sailrite while pouring through online forums for an industrial machine. I was intrigued by the Ultrafeed LSZ and its modular nature \u2014 one machine for a bunch of different applications.\u201d Another big asset of the Ultrafeed is its portability, which comes in handy when Enoch takes the machine \u2014 which he has affectionately dubbed \u201cOl\u2019 Blue\u201d \u2014 on the road for conventions. \u201cI\u2019m taking Ol\u2019 Blue with me on a bicycle tour packed in her carrying case, but at home, she\u2019s hooked up to the Workhorse\u2122 Servo Motor and Industrial Table. That kind of functionality makes it ideal for the lifestyle I live.\u201d Recently, Enoch acquired the Monster\u00ae II Balance Wheel so he could sew without electricity at conventions and workshops, furthering his green lifestyle and the machine\u2019s versatility.<\/p>\n What are Enoch\u2019s impressions of his Ultrafeed now that he has sewn everything from billboard vinyl to parachute webbing with it? Enoch had this to say about his machine: \u201cSo far I really love the reliability of the machine. It has taught me a lot about the mechanics of sewing. I\u2019ve spent so much time reading the manual and feel really comfortable with how it\u2019s designed to be repaired in the field. It\u2019s built to last \u2014 I don\u2019t see that too much anymore.\u201d<\/p>\n Enoch is mindful of his own carbon footprint and does what he can to live a green lifestyle. \u201cI really work hard to be aware of my environmental footprint. I ride bikes and am active in the community as much as I can be. To be as effective as possible you have to live in the way that you want the world to be \u2014 not forcing your ideals onto others.\u201d<\/p>\n Part of his mission is bringing awareness of living a more resourceful and self-reliant lifestyle through sewing. He donates 30% of profits from the sale of his bags to teaching free sewing workshops and educational programs in Harrisburg. \u201cI was a camp counselor for six years and that got me really excited about youth education. I see an opportunity to educate individuals in my community about being self-sufficient.\u201d<\/p>\n He also teaches repair classes where he promotes hands-on learning opportunities. People can learn how to repair textiles and gear instead of throwing them away and buying new products. \u201cWhen we are empowered to make and repair, we stop being consumers. And we start using our brains!\u201d Next year, Enoch plans on traveling to schools \u2014 biking his sewing machine and materials, of course \u2014 to facilitate educational workshops. \u201cI\u2019ll be teaching kids not only how to sew but how to get creative with trash.\u201d Teaching the next generation how to be resourceful and environmentally responsible, \u201cthat\u2019s the future, the big time.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI like to think that when I interact with these materials I\u2019m giving my energy to the object, transforming it into something that lives and breathes with a personality of its own. I see it as being more than just a transformation of an object, but also a transformation of an idea. By reanimating our garbage and repairing what is broken, we also reanimate our community \u2014 increasing self-sufficiency and resilience. That\u2019s what I think is really important.\u201d<\/p>\n Enoch\u2019s drive and passion for upcycling is something all creatives can relate to. A big part of the DIY lifestyle is taking something and transforming it into something else. So, the next time you see trash on the side of the road or the next time you go to throw away an old sweater, an umbrella, a pair of ripped jeans, a pool toy, a beach ball \u2026 Stop and think, \u201cIs there still a use for this item? What could this object become?\u201d The possibilities are endless.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Sailrite is your one-stop DIY shop! We are a passionate crew of do-it-yourselfers who strive to equip you with the supplies and how-to knowledge you need to tackle your next project. Do you want to learn upholstery, leatherwork, canvaswork, hobby sewing, bag making or more? We have the fabric, tools, hardware, sewing machines and notions you need to master any DIY. And even if you’ve never sewn before, our tutorials and how-to videos are designed for beginners and experienced crafters alike.<\/span><\/p>\n Start your DIY journey today: www.sailrite.com<\/span><\/a><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"![\"coffee](\"https:\/\/www.sailrite.com\/meet-our-customers\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/coffee-bag-collage.jpg\")
Sustainable Sewing Practices<\/h2>\n
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![\"enoch](\"https:\/\/www.sailrite.com\/meet-our-customers\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/enoch-repairing-ultrafeed.jpg\")
Leading by Example<\/h2>\n
![\"Ultrafeed](\"https:\/\/www.sailrite.com\/meet-our-customers\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Ultrafeed-on-bicycle.jpg\")
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Who We Are<\/b><\/span><\/h3>\n