Fashion Revolution Week SCRAP TALKS: John Doyle: Fashionable Buttons – Recycling, Sustainability & Beauty

Join John Doyle of Vintage Buttons UK as we shine a light on the humble button—small in size, but mighty in meaning.

Have you ever stopped to think about the life of a button? Each one has a story—of design, of labour, of love. By reclaiming and reusing buttons, we’re not just reducing waste… we’re preserving history, beauty, and craftsmanship.

Join John Doyle of Vintage Buttons UK as we shine a light on the humble button—small in size, but mighty in meaning.

In a recent project, Vintage Buttons UK carefully sourced, cleaned, and restored buttons from discarded garments. It’s a slow, thoughtful process—but the transformation is stunning. Some buttons return to their original role as closures, while others evolve into decorative accents, statement pieces, or even wearable art.

John will be sharing diagrams and behind-the-scenes moments – showing the journey from forgotten fastener to beloved detail.

Recycling buttons is also a way of honouring those who came before us—designers, seamstresses, factory workers—whose skill and creativity still live on through these tiny treasures.

We’ll also be celebrating the UK makers and crafters who continue to create beautiful buttons, sustainably and ethically.

And looking ahead? We see buttons not just as functional… but as expressive, joyful flourishes. Little works of art that give garments soul.

So here’s our gentle call to action:

Don’t throw your buttons away. Save them. Swap them. Stitch them into something new. Let them tell another story.

We’ll have gift bags and free mixed button bundles available—perfect for makers, crafters, and anyone who loves a good button jar.

This talk is part of Scrap’s activities for Fashion Revolution Week. This year the theme is Think Locally, Act Globally.

Please note there is another SCRAP TALK this day at 1.30pm, we are lucky enough to be joined by Adelle A’asante and Obroni W’awu, the greatest story of injustice ever worn. Discover the untold story behind second-hand clothing in Ghana, where “Obroni W’awu” loosely translates to “clothes of the dead white man.” More here.

Any questions? Please contact admin@scrapstuff.co.uk.