Inside the lab, much sewing and much learning.
This spring, three entities were honored with the Governor's Environmental Excellence Awards, including a Herndon organization called Sewing Lab. Sewing Lab teaches and promotes sewing as an environmental effort to keep clothes out of the landfills. Led by Janine Inselmann, this Herndon organization that began as a modest idea to teach people how to sew has transformed into one of Fairfax County’s most uplifting stories of sustainability, creativity, and Filipino-led community impact.
Sewing Lab is taking a small chunk of the 100 billion garments produced a year out of landfills by teaching
Janine Inselmann highlights her Philippine heritage.
In 2025, Sewing Lab diverted an estimated 5,000 pounds of textiles from disposal through swaps and classes, reusing or repurposing 7,500 garments. Approximately 70% of class materials came from donated or surplus sources. Environmental education is woven into every class, linking personal clothing choices to broader impacts such as landfill waste, water use and greenhouse gas emissions.
At the lab, participants are taught how to sew, the importance of sustainability and how they can be creative while reducing waste and their impact on the environment, according to their website. They do this with donated textiles acquired through clothing swaps using vintage treadle sewing machines, and many times members of Janine Inselmann’s community donate fabrics for them to use.
Fairfax County has identified textile waste as a growing concern regionally — businesses like Sewing Lab support county and regional waste diversion goals by helping residents change habits and consumption patterns. In early 2025Fairfax County launched the “Helpsy Textile Collection Pilot” at the West Ox Transfer Station. Six blue dumpsters in the parking lot provide space where more than 60,000 pounds of textiles were collected, so the county expanded it into the I-95 Landfill and other sites.
Why Recycle Textiles?
Textile waste is one of the fastest-growing waste streams in the United States, though 95% of discarded textiles can be reused or recycled. Recycling textiles helps reduce waste, save resources, and support sustainable practices in our community.
https://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/publicworks/recycling-trash/textile
How the Program Works
Drop off your textiles at the blue collection bins located at the I-66 Transfer Station and other sites listed below.
Reusable items: Sold to thrift partners in North America and around the world or donated to community partners.
Non-reusable items: Repurposed into new materials, such as insulation, industrial wiper rags, or other products.
Residents can donate a variety of items, even if they are stained, worn, or have broken zippers. All items must be clean, dry, odorless, and placed in a securely closed plastic bag.
Drop-Off Locations
Textiles can be dropped off at the following county facilities (by the purple glass recycling containers):
Sewing Lab
489A Carlisle Drive, Herndon, VA 20170
571-620-2739
Website:https://www.sewing-lab.com/