Based in Grand Rapids, Public Thread is a woman-owned textile upcycling company that designs and makes sewn products from surplus and scrap textiles, sourced from some of the biggest names in furniture and fashion. Woodward Corner Market and Public Thread joined forces back in 2020 for the opening of the market to upcycle a series of Meijer billboards throughout Michigan, and the partnership has continued!

Every billboard bag is cut, sewn, stitched, and packaged by hand in Grand Rapids by expert sewists. Read on to learn how they do it!

BOLD, UPCYCLED GOODS

The word “public” has many meanings, but the one that stands out to Public Thread is doing together what you cannot do alone. Founder Janay Brouwer and Chief Operating Officer Lisa Knight work in partnership with some of the most popular and successful area manufacturers, designers, artists, and entrepreneurs (think: Steelcase, Chaco, Adams Advertising, Outfront Media) to bring upcycled products to market and support a growing creative economy.

From billboard bags to backpacks, cotton face masks, duffels, and more, their team can find a use for almost any material. Chaco shoe straps become fashionable keychains and sturdy bag straps, Steelcase upholstery becomes toiletry bags and backpacks, billboards made from heavy-duty vinyl become reusable and washable grocery shopping totes and recycle bags.

Each year, more than 18 million tons of usable textiles end up in landfills. By transforming used billboards and other textiles into usable items, we extend the life of existing material and divert waste from our community landfills.

HOW IT’S MADE: BILLBOARD BAGS

Made from a heavy duty vinyl, billboard canvas is designed to withstand the elements, making it ideal for everyday tote bags. They are waterproof and durable, so whether you are grabbing groceries, hauling sports equipment, or going to the beach, they hold up to whatever you throw at them and in them. Billboard canvas is also ideal for cleaning, so you can always wipe out your bag should there be a spill.

The average size billboard is 14 feet high by 48 feet long, and Public Thread can use that material to make around 70 tote bags!

So, how does a billboard go from spreading messages on the highway to a stand-out, everyday powerhouse tote bag? Let’s look at the process step-by-step.

STEP 1 – ACQUIRE THE MATERIALS

Public Thread tote bags start as billboards in our community. Once the billboards have served their purpose, our supply partners take them down and get them to Public Thread. Moving a giant vinyl billboard is no easy task, and the team at Public Thread travels to pick up materials or their partners ship them. For sustainability reasons, the closer the better!

According to Public Thread, one of the most powerful things that any advertiser can do is think about the end use of their marketing materials – what if you could you design a billboard with the idea that in the end, the graphic will make up 70 unique tote bags?

STEP 2 – TAKE INVENTORY & CUT THE VINYL

Public Thread’s team of designers and sewists will sort through the boards, looking for colors, designs, and styles that connect with the products they will become. Due to the nature of this craft and that everything is made by human hands, no piece is the same!

They cut the material according to their patterns and then it’s to the sewing machine we go!

STEP 3 – SEW & STITCH

Their expert sewists start stitching the bags and add webbing for handles. The handles used on billboard bags are upcycled Chaco shoe straps.

STEP 4 – ADD TAGS & A QUALITY INSPECTION

When the bags are complete, the expert sewists inspect each bag for quality, then add a tag that indicates the type of upcycled materials used to create each unique bag.

SHOP AT WOODWARD CORNER MARKET

At Woodward Corner Market, we are proud to sell upcycled billboard bags made by Public Thread. With your purchase, you can know that you are helping to divert textile waste from landfills in our community and support a local, women-owned business.

Billboard bags are $19.99 each. Find them in our checkout area!

How A Billboard Becomes A Bag with Public Thread