Repair instead of throwing away. That’s the proposal from the Acise Insertion Environnement association, which is opening three repair shops for clothing, shoes, and curtains. All types of textile products are accepted, giving them a second life. Good for the environment and good for your wallet, this initiative has it all—benefiting both residents and the environment.
Recycle Textiles
Textile products account for a significant portion of a region’s waste, particularly because of the fast fashion, the lifespan of products has decreased significantly in recent years. «What if extending the life of your clothes became second nature in Martinique?» asks the Acise Insertion Environnement association, which has announced plans to develop «three local alteration workshops to […] allow you to repair, adjust, and restore your everyday clothes.»These textile repairs can take various forms—such as «a hem that needs re-sewing, a broken zipper, a damaged collar, a tear that needs mending, or curtains that need adjusting.» In these cases, there’s no longer any need to throw them away; the association’s teams offer to make the requested alterations.
How can I have my clothing altered?
To receive assistance from the organization, please bring clothing or textile items to one of these three locations:
- 5 rue des Melons, in Sainte-Marie
- 18 Elphège Mélan Street, Le François
- 2 Rue du Terrain Fantaisie, Fort-de-France
The association’s seamstresses accept clothing and other textile items Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. «Having a garment altered isn’t just “making do with old things,”» the association explains. On the contrary, it’s about «choosing a smarter, more responsible, and more sustainable way of consuming,» because «every garment repaired means one less piece of waste, showcases local craftsmanship, and also provides jobs and training for people in Martinique .».
The organization offers a high-quality service that helps prevent waste, reduce the amount of trash, and save money. «At ACISE INSERTION ENVIRONNEMENT, we believe that a piece of clothing can have many lives… as long as we give it a second chance.»
