Community Update: Fire at Ragfinery and What Comes Next
Dear Ragfinery Community,
On December 29, 2024, a fire traveled up the exterior of our building and into the attic, causing extensive fire, smoke, and water damage. Thankfully, no one was hurt. However, the impact has been significant, and as a result, our building is closed and our shop will not operate as it once did for the foreseeable future.
While the physical space is out of commission, Ragfinery is still here—and we’re still doing what we do best: creatively reusing textiles, building community, and imagining a more sustainable future together. Our administrative staff and programming will continue on a reduced scale, and you’ll still see us out in the community hosting free mending events, workshops, and upcycle challenges. You can also stay engaged through our social media and email list, where we’ll share educational posts, tutorials, and updates on our recovery.
Thanks to the overwhelming generosity of our community, we surpassed our initial fundraising goal of $23,000 and have raised over $25,000 to support our team. These funds have allowed us to pay our retail staff through January and maintain essential operations during this uncertain time. Every dollar beyond that continues to support our resilience and rebuilding.
The building’s future and timeline for repairs remain in the hands of its owner, and the process ahead will be slow. We’re working closely with insurance and fire mitigation teams, and we’re taking things day by day as we evaluate how Ragfinery can move forward without a permanent space for now.
We are especially grateful to our community—those who donated, volunteered, offered partnership ideas, or simply reached out with kind words. You’ve reminded us just how loved and valued Ragfinery is.
If you’d like to help, here’s how:
Volunteer: Fill out the form on our website so we can reach out when the time comes.
Partner on Fundraising: Use the contact form on our website to get in touch.
Though our doors are closed (well, boarded shut), we are still mending. Still making do. Still showing up for each other, and for the planet. Five years ago, we shut down for what we thought would be two weeks due to COVID—and we made it through by reimagining what Ragfinery could be. We’ll do that again now.
This may be our last update about the fire for a while as we focus on recovery, but we promise to keep you in the loop as new developments arise. Thank you for your support, your love, and for believing in what we do. We miss you deeply, and we’re so grateful to be walking this road with you.
With love and gratitude,
The Ragfinery Team & Board of Directors
