Sep 22, 2020

K-State tackles textile waste with reborn clothing company

Posted Sep 22, 2020 6:52 PM

Manhattan– Reborn Clothing Co. has teamed up with Kansas State University Athletics to transform athletic uniforms and surplus, outdated or otherwise abandoned textile materials into officially licensed usable products such as dog beds, throw pillows and duffel bags. These eco-friendly collegiate products are now available for purchase online and at the K-State Super Store, the official retailer of Kansas State University Athletics featuring officially licensed fan apparel and souvenirs, located at 519 McCall Rd, Manhattan, KS 66502. 

The Reborn products offered to K-State fans include traditional game day products such as koozies, mascot plushes and throw blankets with an environmentally-friendly twist and a textile waste solution that hasn’t been seen at K-State until now. This type of large-scale university upcycling venture is the first of its kind and a model Reborn is continually growing nationally with additional schools and businesses.

“We are so excited for the opportunity to offer a collection such as Reborn this Fall. It is unlike anything we have featured before and is such a novel idea for the collegiate retail industry—refurbishing existing, unsold licensed goods or uniforms,” said Kyra Dreiling, Director of Retail Operations at The K-State Super Store.

The upcycled products make use of surplus K-State items, including branded t-shirts and basketball uniforms, that would otherwise go to waste. 

“The K-State Super Store team recognizes a growing global concern regarding fabric waste, and our shop in Manhattan, KS, is looking for ways to do our part in lessening the fabric footprint,” said Dreiling. “A big thanks to K-State Athletics for supplying the initial fabric from unused uniforms. We can now begin looking for new ways to make a larger impact and share these opportunities with the Wildcat community.”

Since 2017, it has been Reborn’s mission is to transform and repurpose surplus branded apparel and quality textile waste into enduring products for every lifestyle.

“As with many university departments around the country, there is inevitable waste when seasons, events, or outdated uniforms come to an end,” stated Reborn Founder and CEO Emily Neville. “Reborn’s mission is to help reduce this waste by creating new products and accessories, and we are very excited about the opportunities K-State has given us to give new life to much of their apparel.”

Reborn Clothing Co. has partnered with universities across the country to create products ranging from koozies to earrings to dog beds. Schools include Duke University, the University of Connecticut, Clemson University, University of Pittsburgh, and the University of Virginia to name a few.