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About Us
Recycled by Design™ was founded in 2003 on the tiny, mystical island of Papa Westray, (known locally as Papay), in Orkney, Scotland.
This tiny (four miles long by one mile wide), far-flung northerly island is where Jan Crocker makes her home with husband Nic and family.
In a former life Jan was a psychiatric nurse and, together with husband Nic, for 10 years owned and ran a care home in Ipswich, Suffolk.
The family moved to Papay in 1998 and now have 5 children, including twins, also produced on the mystical Papay!
Recycled by Design™ came about following some rather successful, if somewhat unplanned, experiments on the family washing! Maybe this is the upside of not being a domestic goddess!
A beautiful hand-knit wool jumper became the most gorgeous felted wool fabric following an accidental hot wash! Living on an island like Papay means recycling has to become second nature with only one small shop to supply the necessities required by the folk of the island. No shopping malls here! The wool jumper that had shrunk was duly cut and sewn into a hat; admired by all. No wool garment was safe as the collection of hats and bags grew!
Self-taught with passion and enthusiasm Jan considers herself truly fortunate to have escaped the rat race and have the opportunity to discover creative talents so very well hidden.
As demand grew and Jan’s supply of family knitwear diminished she had to look further afield for supplies of woollen knitwear to recycle. Jan approached Oxfam’s main warehouse in Huddesfield and ever since they have been a life line in providing unloved and unwanted woollens for the Recycled by Design™ treatment.
These woollens are sold by the ton but Oxfam send out smaller sacks to Jan via Royal Mail. Naturally Oxfam have much greater priorities for their time and resources but Recycled by Design™ is definitely on their radar and their support is very much appreciated.