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Making a Textile Donation

Since September 2021, our Reuse Program has provided access to affordable textile materials for makers and artists. This is made possible by generous donations, and our volunteers who help with sorting and pricing. What began as outdoor fabric sales more than thirty years ago has evolved into a program with dedicated space within the Museum, continuing to further our mission to promote sustainability and reuse in textile arts. Our customers have already repurposed over 15,000 pounds of fabric, yarn, thread, lace and more!
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01. Donating Your Textiles
to the Reuse Program

Items We Accept For Donation

  • Fabric
  • Yarn
  • Fleece
  • Wool roving
  • Sewing supplies, especially needles
  • Beads or jewelry-making supplies
  • Craft kits, especially cross-stitch, felting and embroidery
  • Fabric markers
  • Small tools such as crochet needles and tatting shuttles
  • Sewing Machines (working)
  • Vintage accessories

Items We Do Not Accept For Donation

  • Vintage clothing
  • Ink, paint, or glue
  • Scrap fabric (smaller than 50X50cm)
  • Unclean or moth-eaten items
  • Incomplete sewing patterns
  • Large equipment such as looms and knitting machines
If you would like to contribute, please email the following information to reuse@textilemuseum.ca:
  • quantity and type of items
  • a photograph of your items
  • If you can provide more information on the source (maker or manufacturer), that would be appreciated!

Please note that due to the high volume of requests, we are unable to respond to each inquiry. 

We are unable to accept walk-in textile donations at this time.

02. Donating Your Textiles to
Our Permanent Collection

The Museum is grateful for the donation of objects to the collection. However, please note that we have currently placed a moratorium on new acquisitions as we undergo an in-depth review of our policies.

Over the last year the Museum has been re-examining collecting practices in light of changed socio-political circumstances and emerging new audiences. We are developing an approach to address and adapt our practices moving forward, and will continue to form a collections development plan which will articulate our goals for the next five years.

Please note that we do not appraise textiles. For a list of appraisers, click here.

To submit your item for consideration as a donation to the collection after we have lifted our moratorium, please send images and information about the object to collections@textilemuseum.ca

The Museum does not collect:

  • Fashion garments (ie. 20th century western clothing, Vintage wedding dresses, Christening gowns)
  • Large tools and equipment (ie. Looms, Spinning Wheels, Frames, Sewing Machines)
  • Commercially manufactured textiles
  • Archival records