What do discontinued fabric samples, dollhouse furniture, and children’s imaginations have in common?

More than you might think!

At Commercial Office Environments (COE), we’re used to seeing fabric samples help bring workplace designs to life. But recently, some of those same materials found a new purpose, one that involves a little less office furniture and a lot more imagination.

What started as a routine organization project turned into an opportunity to give back to our local community, reduce waste, and support creative learning for children.

A Little Fabric, A Lot of Possibility

While organizing COE’s material library, two of our team members, Morgan and Shelby, noticed something: a growing collection of discontinued fabric samples. Many of the samples came from Haworth and other manufacturers. Although COE keeps one sample of each discontinued fabric for future reference, the extras were no longer needed. 

Rather than throwing them away, Morgan had an idea.

“We didn’t want to be wasteful and throw them in the trash, so we decided it would be a good idea to collect them and bring them to the daycare I worked at in college,” Morgan shared.

Having worked at the daycare during college, she knew exactly where the materials could find a second home. The team gathered the extra samples and donated them, giving materials that otherwise would have ended up in the trash an entirely new purpose.

And what happened next? Let’s just say the kids got creative!

From Workplace Design to Playtime

It’s amazing what a child’s imagination can do with a simple piece of fabric.

At the daycare, the donated samples have become everything from dollhouse rugs and tiny quilts to stuffed animal sleeping bags, homemade clothing, and even dog beds. The children used the donated materials to create their own miniature worlds, turning scraps of fabric into blankets, pillows, tablecloths, and whatever else their imaginations dreamed up.

But the fun goes beyond pretend play. The variety of fabric weights and textures also gives children opportunities to practice cutting, strengthen fine motor skills, and develop the muscles they’ll eventually use for writing.

“The variety of weights and textures offers just the right kind of challenge, encouraging children to build their skills through repeated practice,” shared the daycare team.

The daycare also incorporates the fabrics into open-ended art projects, where children can experiment with different colors, textures, and materials. And because every piece feels a little different, there’s always something new to explore.

So, what was once a collection of workplace design samples has become a resource for creativity, problem-solving, hands-on learning, and endless imaginative possibilities.

 

Small Gestures Can Make a Big Difference

For the daycare, these donations mean more than a new collection of craft supplies.

“We truly appreciate the fabric donations from COE. They provide children with rich, engaging materials that we would not otherwise be able to afford, while freeing up space in our budget to purchase other materials we need,” shared the daycare team.

Most importantly, the materials create meaningful opportunities for children to learn through play.

For COE, that’s what giving back is all about. We believe supporting the communities where we live and work doesn’t always require a grand gesture. Sometimes, it’s simply recognizing an opportunity to make something useful out of what you already have. And in this case, a little resourcefulness helped keep materials out of the landfill while putting them into the hands of some very imaginative young creators.

Giving Back Is Part of Who We Are

As we move deeper into November, a season that reminds us to reflect on gratitude and generosity, we’re especially thankful for opportunities like this one.

At COE, we spend our days helping organizations create spaces where people can do their best work. But we also believe in making a positive impact beyond the workplaces we design. 

“Even small contributions can make a difference, and donating fabric to a local daycare was a great way to help them create something useful for the children they care for,” our team shared.

Whether it’s supporting local organizations, sharing resources, or finding creative ways to reduce waste, we know even small contributions can make a meaningful difference. And sometimes, giving something a second life is all it takes to spark something wonderful.

Here’s to finding new possibilities in unexpected places, giving back where we can, and remembering that a little creativity can go a long way.