Cutting out patterns during a shorts making class
By Emma Castleberry
What began as a simple idea to combine a thrift store and a sewing space has grown into something much larger for the Mars Hill community. Remnants Thrift and Sew offers carefully curated secondhand clothing alongside a community sewing studio stocked with machines, fabric, notions and a large cutting table. The space hosts classes, provides free access to sewing equipment and materials, and serves as a gathering place for local creatives.
Managers Callis Chambliss and Marcyanne Hannemann had a clear vision for the nonprofit.
“We wanted to build a small piece of the world we wanted to live in, something that we hoped would be useful and reflect our values,” says Chambliss. “We figured combining a community sewing space with a thrift store was a good fit.”
The thrift store provides affordable clothing and fabric while helping reduce textile waste, and the sewing space offers opportunities for learning, creativity and connection.
Sewing an appliqué patch onto a shirt during an Open Sew event
“We are striving to be a fun place to go, run into friends, meet people, get clothes and sewing supplies, without having to go into Asheville,” says Hannemann. “Ideally, this venture helps mitigate clothing and textile waste, acts as a public space that fosters community, education and art through classes and programming, and supports the local economy.”
Accessibility has been central to the business from the beginning. Sewing classes are offered on a sliding-scale donation basis, helping remove financial barriers that can prevent people from learning a new skill.
“Whether cost is prohibitive or you don’t want to take out a loan to try out a new hobby, we just want to get people around each other sewing,” says Chambliss.
That emphasis on community participation has led to some of the store’s most meaningful successes. One volunteer, Courtney, approached the owners with the idea of teaching a hand-quilting class every Thursday. More than a year later, the class is still running.
“We have things we want to see happen at Remnants, but we love that it can be a place for other people’s ideas and projects,” says Hannemann.
The store also promotes repairing and reusing clothing rather than discarding it. A feature called “The Repairable Rack” offers free garments that may need minor repairs such as replacing a button or mending a small hole.
“It’s an expression of resourcefulness, creativity and respect for your belongings and the resources that it took to create them,” says Chambliss. “It’s always fun seeing how people choose to repair or mend an item.”
The business model has also proven sustainable. Revenue from the thrift store helps support the educational side of the operation, allowing Remnants to offer programming without relying on grants or fundraising.
Group showing off quilt squares after a hand quilting class
“Some people come in to shop for clothes and learn about the sewing space and some people come in for classes and find some things they need in the store,” says Chambliss.
Operating the business has revealed a thriving community of makers throughout Madison County and the surrounding region. The owners regularly witness customers helping one another solve sewing challenges, sharing ideas and exchanging knowledge.
Looking ahead, Chambliss and Hannemann hope to expand their programming, particularly for children. Among their goals is developing a formal after-school program that encourages creativity and hands-on learning.
“Nurturing kids’ natural capacity for learning and creativity is something we think the world can never have enough of,” says Hannemann.
Above all, the owners hope visitors leave with something more meaningful than a purchase.
“We hope people first feel welcomed and that they belong,” says Chambliss. “In an increasingly digital world, places where we can be together and do the things we care about are more and more important and precious.”
Remnants Thrift and Sew is located at 745 Carl Eller Road, Unit A, Mars Hill. Hours are 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. every day. Learn more by following @remnants.thrift.sew on Instagram.
