One person’s trash is another person’s treasure. Only if it gets into the right hands.
Nowhere Collective collects unwanted, discarded stuff and gets it into the hands of makers to transform it into awesome things that you will love…again.
How this works
What do we collect?
We collect the stuff that has potential to be reimagined by makers, tinkerers, crafters, engineers and upcyclers. Creative minds are great at finding new life for used materials, but they can’t always find or don’t have time to find quality, consistent upcycling materials. We do the finding for them.
Who collects?
You! Check our curated list of in-demand materials. If you got it, we want it. We also poach stuff from alleys, scrap yards, recyclers, and thrift stores. If you are as obsessed with waste as we are, join the team and become a professional collector.
Where does it go?
The ISO items listed below are materials that are right-now in demand from REmakers. We are limiting the list currently to Chicago-based needs and gives. Our team is manually coordinating the exchange between Donator and Maker. We hope to offer this service to more areas soon.
ISOItems listed below labeled “ISO” (in search of) are ones we are currently collecting from the Chicagoland area.
YAYWe also list things that we have previously collected, reimagined and upcycled. These are labeled as “YAY”.
If you are interested in receiving updates or if you live in Chicagoland and have any ISO items, please send us a note.
ISO: Old music magazines like Rolling Stone, Billboard, Creem, etc. for CraftySue Shop
ISO: Name badge plastic covers and clips for Silva Espadas
ISO: Colored rick rack (the wavy textile tape on the front) for Picnicwear.
ISO: Large Wooden Beads, ideally colored, for Picnicwear.
ISO: Yarn for craft projects at Indigo & Violet Studio
ISO: Burgandy ripstop fabric (like tent material) for Beque Textile & Design.
ISO: Blue tins (i.e. cookie tins) in any of the shades shown, any size; Collected for Seattle Sirens REmaker
ISO: Colored cables like ethernet cables or headphone wires
ISO: Scrap fabric , solid colors, woven, ideally cotton or similar, larger than 8"x8"
ISO: Colorful Bubble Wands for Piinkrete
ISO: Blue Glass for Piinkrete
ISO: Old/broken costume jewelry which can be taken apart for Crafty Sue Shop
ISO: Fan jerseys for Silva Espadas upcycled bags
ISO: Brooms (with handle)
ISO: Album covers (ACCEPTED: rock, pop, country, rap, hip-hop, easy listening, some soundtrack albums, etc. NOT ACCEPTED: compilation albums, foreign language, older than 50s) for Crafty Sue Shop
ISO: Vases (clear or white only) for craft projects at Indigo & Violet Studio
YAY: Green plastic caps have been incorporated in our Plant Chicago installation
YAY: CDs (with or without cases) have been incorporated in our Plant Chicago installation
YAY: Circular plastic lids larger than 4" have been incorporated in our Plant Chicago installation
YAY: Bottle caps -> Flower Peduncle
YAY: Newspaper bags
YAY: Plastic shopping bags > Leaves
YAY: Plastic eggs -> Flower Stamen
YAY: Headphones -> Pistil & Stamen
YAY: Plasticware -> Flower