Welcome to Act Two Handmade, where you'll find lovingly handcrafted accessories and ideas for sustainable living. I make everything with rescued textiles, upcycled scraps, and repurposed craft supplies. Each item has an origin story, so check out the product description to learn about its history.
I'm Jennifer Juul Thomas, creator of Act Two Handmade, and I'm on an eco-conscious journey to rescue textiles from the landfill and repurpose them into look-good, feel-good accessories. I make everything in my Virginia home studio. I'm glad you're here! Let's repurpose together.
Vision & Values
To create beloved products from unwanted material; to grow the community of eco-conscious upcyclers; to exchange the best sustainability projects, research, and ideas; to raise awareness of the environmental and human consequences of fast fashion; and to inspire others to upcycle, repurpose, and reinvent.
Info for Customers
I source post-consumer (in other words, pre-owned) textiles that are inherited, donated, thrifted, swapped, scrounged, rescued, and salvaged. Every item has an origin story--an Act One--as a tablecloth, a slipcover, a scrap from a quilt, a dress, or a blanket, for example. I wash the fabric carefully prior to construction. I also use eco-conscious or repurposed packaging material.
Satisfaction Guarantee
If you are not happy with your purchase, feel free to contact me and I will work with you on a solution that you feel good about. You have several options: repair, exchange, partial refund, and full refund.
Return or Repair Policy
If you need to exchange or return your handmade item, please contact me within 30 days of your purchase. You can mail your item back and either exchange it for something of equal value, ask for a repair, or receive a refund. For up to one year after purchase, I will attempt to repair an item that is damaged or defective. I want you to be able to use it for a long time! I also offer consultation in the event that you would like to repair it yourself. In exchange for repairs, I ask that you don't throw it in the trash.
Custom orders
Special orders and alterations are welcome! If you have your own fabric that you'd like to use, or a special idea you'd like to bring to life, contact me. I can also modify a design to accommodate special needs.
Designer Statement
I develop, design, source, create, and test accessories that are useful, attractive, and guilt-free. I hope they will bring you joy for many years beyond your purchase.
Sourcing the material is one of the most interesting and challenging parts of upcycling textiles. Some are handed down or donated, while others come from local thrift stores, creative reuse centers, and other sellers of secondhand goods. I accept donations of textiles that can't be donated elsewhere on a case by case basis.
I make sure that all of the second-hand material I source is in good condition, and I clean it in a manner that is as environmentally friendly as possible. During construction, I save scraps and use them or shred them into stuffing for other projects. Occasionally, I need to purchase new items like thread, jewelry findings, clasps, and interfacing to ensure high quality. I am constantly learning how to source new items from the most ethical companies. I welcome your ideas on sourcing material sustainably.
The goal is to create 'slow fashion' that will last a long time. The process is more time-consuming, and each item is one-of-a-kind. It's part of the movement toward sustainable goods, rather than 'fast fashion' that only lasts a season. Textiles make up a disturbingly large portion of landfill waste. The majority of clothing is now made of synthetic material from fossil fuels. The processing and transportation practices still employ toxic chemicals. When we consume newly manufactured items, we contribute to climate change, pollution, and workplace abuses.
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Neuroscience tells us that we get a little spike of happy chemicals from buying something new. Maybe that's why most of us have more stuff than we need (and you might be surprised how much of that clutter is textile-based). We can also feel that joy over and over again, whenever we wear something we love and feel good about. We can work together to improve our lives and the life of our planet by changing what we make, buy, and sell.
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