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"Sewing, by its nature, tends to fit into a circular economy mindset," notes Frédérik Guérin, CEO of Club Tissus. Founded in 1992, the retailer has been built on the notion of sharing, from its myriad of courses to free scissor sharpening, while constantly giving back, whether to a local dance school or the organization Le Chaînon.

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As a result of the environmental urgency, the green strategy of the family-owned company has intensified in the last ten years, particularly through the introduction of eco-friendly textiles. From recycled polyester to organic cotton, the selection represents approximately 25% of the current offering—a figure that could be significantly higher if certifications were better regulated, according to Frédérik.

"There are so many steps involved in fabric manufacturing: the fiber, spinning, weaving, dyeing. It's difficult to trace the source of each one. And the problem is that nobody verifies the authenticity of fabrics displaying these famous certifications," he laments. It's a realization he has experienced firsthand.

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In search of reusable bags, he had found a model made of "entirely" hemp from an overseas supplier. Abnormally affordable for a fiber that is usually expensive, he decided to import a sample for analysis. The result: it contained only 5% hemp.

Since then, when it comes to eco-friendly fabrics, the retailer sources more from Europe and prioritizes traceable materials, hoping that one day the government will legislate these nebulous practices. "We don't want to fall into greenwashing, so we prefer to move slowly to be able to prove the legitimacy of each of our actions," he shares.

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Among its most recent efforts, Club Tissus has recently inaugurated a circular economy department at its flagship store in Saint-Hubert, a concept that will be expanded to the other four branches in the coming months. Available tools for borrowing, a wide selection of end-of-line fabrics (deadstock), collection of cotton scraps for stuffing, and repair workshops—the most significant actions are sometimes where we have full control.

The distribution of this article is made possible by the contribution of Détail Québec, comité sectoriel de main-d'œuvre du commerce de détail.

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