CPSIA and recycled/upcycled materials

[Former_Member]

Hi-I've searched the forums and other places and can't find anything on the CPSIA and the use of recycled materials. I make children's clothing out of clothing and other textiles from thrift stores (as many other etsy sellers do) and was wondering how these items will be affected. Thrift shops have been exempt from this act but I'm guessing that doesn't mean that items made from thrift store purchases are.

Does anyone have info about this? I'd love to hear from you!

Thanks much,
Rachel

[TheFairiesNest]

Many of us have been asking this question...and lots of others. Unfortunately at this time there are no exceptions and if you make anything for children it must be tested.

[Former_Member]

also, it is my understanding that the thrift stores are still liable for what they sell. check out the fashion incubator web sight

[Former_Member]

I am in the same situation as yourself. Mine and your items are OOAK. I use vintage tablecloth fabric and only get 1 or 2 outfits per tablecloth. As far as I know, we are not exempt from the law. I am crossing my fingers that they will exempt fabric. They I just need to do component testing.

[Former_Member]

I'm in the same boat too... I'm holding out hope that textiles will be exempted. It's looking like there actually IS a snowball's chance in hell, so I'm still producing. I'm working on design changes that will eliminate components like buttons to avoid any further testing.

[historicallypatterns]

This has not been addressed adequately yet by the CPSC. For now I would assume that all of the requirements of the new law apply to you, just the same as they do for everyone.

[Former_Member]

I am having the same question. I make things out of wool sweaters I buy from thrift shops. I don't see how if the sweater itself doesn't need to be tested, me putting new thread it in makes it need to be tested. (unless of course, my scissors are dripping in lead????)

[Former_Member]

http://narts.org/

Goog Golly Miss Molly even thrift stores have an organization.

[Former_Member]

thanks for the replies. you all have beautiful upcycled items in your shops!

[Former_Member]

Janssendesigns, I use recycled flannel shirts as appliques for many of my baby products. I also have found no information and therefore am believing we are not exempt either. I really love your designs. I hope that this will change.

[Former_Member]

At the moment, if I purchase something second-hand (remember, it probably hasn't been tested and certified), I can re-sell it as is at, say, a yard sale without also having to get it tested.

If I turn it into a dress or a pillow or a blanket or a quilt or a stuffed toy, even if all I do is alter it by cutting the legs off a pair of pant and using that same fabric to make a ruffle on the resulting pair of shorts, I have to have it tested.

This is my understanding, such as it is.

[Former_Member]

I too recycle a lot, and I just read this in another link...an excerpt from a letter from Senator Feinstein from California (Yay):
"You may be interested to learn that the CPSC has announced that sellers of used children's products, such as thrift stores, will not be required to certify that their products meet the new standards."

Her emphasis is on USED children's items

[Former_Member]

I would also think that even if we are eventually exempted as OOAK creators, if something we made from used fabrics/garments DID turn out to have lead, we'd still be liable same as resellers would be. I know I'd be super-vigilant, but I can't afford an XRF gun to carry with me to Goodwill! LOL

[Former_Member]

I came up with a design for a Christmas stocking that I thought would be pretty nice. I guess that i will have to give those as presents to adults.

[Former_Member]

Textiles should be exempt from this law as well as crafters ect... Unless you are a major manufacturer ( whom have to comply with laws of this nature any way) How are you to afford third party testing...It is Ludacris...

[Former_Member]

I hope upcycling is exempt!!! I just made a bunch of outfits before I found out about this law and haven't been able to post them yet!!! They are soooo cute and I will be very mad if they are lost!!!

[Former_Member]

Well I I don't see how this can effect market places like yard sales and famer's markets ect...And Isn't Etsy a "Market Place" Or handmade items in the first place... There is NO WAY I would ever be able to afford Thousands of dollars to test a $45 tutu...

[Former_Member]

Yeah it seems so crazy to me. I don't know how it can be true, but looks like right now it is. I've also read in a few places that OOAK items might be exempt. Another one to hope for. I really hope this gets straightened out soon.

[Former_Member]

I am reeling from all this CPSIA news (maybe not so new anymore), and as a designer and dressmaker of mostly recycled material children's garments, I am thinking of my next plan of action. I did hear about 10 years ago that some very old, and some not so old, fabrics, especially blacks from the turn of the century, were heavily mordanted with lead, and have been warned against. This puts a damper on some "vintage" goodies which I love so much.

As a dyer myself, and seamstress, I would like to find out some more about the history of dyes, and specific colors and their chemical makeups.

Though we are all struggling to conform, or adapt to this new testing, I do see the point of some of it. Boy, what a pain though! Recycling/reusing is so very important right now and I hate to see it hindered.

[Former_Member]

I was asking a similar question in a previous forum. I was wondering about filler?

[theArtisanry]

My understanding is that while used clothing stores, etc are currently exempt from testing, they are NOT exempt from liability if lead is found in items for children 12 and under. (The Goodwill near my home now has NO childrens toys, almost no baby and toddler clothing, and almost no childrens books. The store looked very different before CPSIA) So while recycled materials may be exempt from testing, no one is exempt from liability. And I too, fail to understand how cutting apart and stitching something that was safe before, suddenly makes it toxic

[Former_Member]

Hoping to revive this topic...

With the new testing exemptions for most fabrics, do you think this means that we can now upcycle / recycle children's clothing. Particularly if I'm careful to use only 100% cotton clothes (according to the original manufacturer's label)?