Deconstructing the Fatigues

Since most military fatigues are made from a tough, canvas-type fabric, we decided we needed help to take them apart for recycling into products.  This was the perfect process to involve veterans, and the fine people at St. Michael’s Veterans Center in Kansas City agreed to help. We were overwhelmed with the enthusiastic welcome and number of veterans who showed up to spend part of a morning helping. Several vets carefully cut the uniforms into flat pieces per our instructions, and a table full of other men and women took seam rippers in hand to remove patches, belt loops, and pant leg drawstrings. After two hours, our four large plastic tubs of fatigues had become the raw materials for bags, accessories, and pet kerchiefs.