From a small shop nestled in the Roosevelt neighborhood, Ruby Spring works among humming sewing machines and neatly folded textiles woven from natural fibers. Waterproof jackets, climbing pants and well-worn packs hang from filled racks awaiting new life.
Spring is the sole artisan behind Phenix Threads, a Bellingham-based outdoor clothing and gear repair company that’s serious about creating a more sustainable outdoor industry. She entered the space creating pants from upcycled materials, but eventually, bringing beloved items back to life became her passion.
The practice fuels her creative drive, as she disassembles a technical garment before repairing it with extra flair.
“The goal for me has always been to do something that felt good for the world and reduce waste in the world,” Spring said. “When I discovered that I could just fix stuff instead, it made sense to keep stuff out of the landfill.”
Spring started sewing as a little kid after watching and learning from her fashion designer mom. The skill came naturally as she hand-sewed doll clothes and helped other kids at her Waldorf school with the sewing machines.
She eventually studied engineering and started working as a machine welder in Ferndale. But the longtime sewist found herself looking for work at the start of the pandemic, and textiles became a natural place to land. Before Phenix Threads, Spring co-founded Madrona Wear with her former romantic partner in 2020, pairing her mending ability and his business acumen.
After building a dedicated customer base, the collaboration ultimately dissolved by 2023, and Spring became the sole proprietor of Phenix Threads. Now, she works cozily surrounded by natural textiles and an army of sewing machines, learning the tales of Bellingham’s greatest adventurers through their garments.
“I love a good gear story, and it makes me so happy to hand back a cherished backpack or coat that was handed down from a father or mother, now beautifully refurbished and ready for more adventures,” Spring said. “If I can make someone’s day, it makes my job worth doing.”
Individuals make up a portion of the customers coming to the neighborhood shop. Bellingham Fire Department also contracts the company for its uniforms, and Mt. Baker Ski Area does the same with its gear. Gear mends and the occasional high-end commission are in demand, too. The current wait is two months.
This popularity is partially thanks to the quality of mending. Customers may also be drawn to her sustainable approach to the work. Landfill-bound clothing comes out of the shop to live a new life instead. And, whenever possible, the company uses recycled or renewable materials to do it.
Spring sources deadstock fabric from trusted warehouses, specifically seeking Merino wool and inventive textiles for patching puffy jackets. If a project requires new materials, she sources natural fibers that promise a longer lifespan.
The goal is not solely to repair, but to improve wherever possible. If a jacket from a well-known outdoor brand has a zipper that does not match its intended function, she swaps it for one that does. With every stitch, Phenix Threads considers environmental impact.
Repurposed fabrics are used whenever possible. Many thread sizes are made with recycled polyethylene terephthalate (rPET), a byproduct of landfill-bound plastic. Spinning it into a thread extends its use past the water bottle or food container it once was.”
Of course, there are pain points like this in Spring’s sustainability mission. Not all thread sizes are available in rPET, and zippers are still made from plastic. But Spring does her best to give well-worn garments new life. In the process, she makes them a little more beautiful with a flourish of floral denim or Kevlar pockets.
Moving forward, Spring wants to empower more people to learn about mending. Even beginner sewists can get the hang of darning jeans and replacing zippers. Sharing this knowledge only helps serve the overall Phenix Threads mission of sustainability.
Spring will turn this hope into action, representing Phenix Threads at Gear Repair & Modification Night at Backcountry Essentials on Thursday, Aug. 7, alongside Gear Aid, Cascade Mountain Ascents and Larrabee Gearworks.
This neighborhood mending shop is a beacon for locals seeking to adapt their hiking pack for senior Chihuahuas, reinforce their Carhartt pockets, or simply keep those favorite pants hiking a little longer. Phenix Threads welcomes a new era — one in which people respect the garments they wear, and understand what it takes to make them.
Phenix Threads is open for pick-ups and drop-offs from 8–9 a.m. and noon to 1 p.m. Monday–Thursday at 2107 Queen St. Info: phenixthreads.com.
Cara Wietstock (she/her) is a Bellingham-based freelance journalist who covers interesting, inspiring and intriguing goings-on in the neighborhood. These tales are often rooted in her drive to create an equitable and sustainable community.
