"Earth Day Every Day"

The very first Earth Day was 56 years ago -- April 22, 1970. It was a national environmental crusade supported by Americans across the country, Democrats and Republicans from the farmlands to the cities. That early energy established the US Environmental Protection Agency and led to the creation of laws promoting cleaner air and water.

A recent EPA report says textile waste is at an all-time high. More than 11 million tons of textiles end up in American landfills each year. The main offender is the inexpensive “throw-away” clothing known as fast fashion. But all discarded textiles are culprits and that’s bad for the planet.

Houston’s LUCKY Textiles is a leader in preventing discarded textiles from clogging those landfills. Interior designer and owner Janet Gust seized on the concept of “upcycling” luxury textile remnants by reimagining the pieces into beautiful one-of-a-kind pillows. Unlike recycling, which is the reuse of an item, upcycling turns something unwanted into something better. Discarded designer fabrics get a new life as handcrafted art pillows.

“I am so proud to be keeping these beautiful fabrics in circulation, crafting functional works of art for the home,” said Janet Gust. “We are doing our part for sustainability.”

Examples of upcycling you can do on your own: 

• Use paper towel rolls to organize cables

• Turn a scrappy pair of jeans into a funky bag or floppy hat

• Fill a pair of worn out cowboy boots with soil and seeds – instant flower planter!

Make an appointment to browse the extensive LUCKY Textiles Upcycled Collection in Janet’s studio/showroom. It’s Earth Day every day with upcycled pillows.