Making the World a Little Greener, One Dummy at a Time.
By Judi Henderson
A lot of people stop by Mannequin Madness in Oakland, CA this time of year, looking for body parts. Last October a customer came in looking for a large quantity of distressed mannequin heads to replicate a Halloween theme he saw at a retail store.
Halloween mannequin heads. (Image courtesy Mannequin Madness)
I have built a thriving business selling used “body parts” for 20 years. When you step into our warehouse at Mannequin Madness you are greeted by an assortment of bodies - plus individual legs, feet, hands and heads. Most people are in awe of what they see, but some people are a little overwhelmed at first.
All of these “bodies” were formerly in retail store displays. If a retailer no longer needs their mannequins, because they go out of business, downsize or remodel, they call us. We will take the mannequins for free and make sure they don’t end up in landfills.
Mannequins are made out of materials that do not biodegrade - fiberglass, styrofoam, plastic. So by reusing and repurposing them, we save the retailers money on waste disposal fees as well as help save the planet. Our motto is: “We make the world a little greener, one dummy at a time.”
The author in her Oakland Warehouse. (image courtesy Mannequin Madness)
My company resells used mannequins on our website and in our warehouse, which is open to the public three days a week. We are the largest mannequin liquidator in the country, recycling over 1 million pounds of mannequins a year.
Just because the mannequins are secondhand doesn’t mean they are in poor condition. Sometimes they are still brand new in the box. Many of our buyers are independent retail chains, like Poshmark/Etsy vendors, fashion designers and photographers. The DIY community loves them for lamps and tables, decoupage and mosaic.
At Halloween people tend to want individual body parts - the more distressed the better. They want them to look scary, with missing limbs or cracks.
After Halloween is over, we attract customers looking to make eco-friendly and fashion forward holiday decor, such as a dress form Christmas tree.
A dress form Christmas tree. (Image courtesy Mannequin Madness)
We have turned a section of our warehouse into a venue for crafting parties. Mannequin heads are a great canvas for design creativity. With the increased awareness of the mental health benefits of making something by hand, these crafting parties are ever more popular.
We have headdress classes several times a month on Sundays and have added Thursday classes for October and November, because many people want to make something to wear for Halloween or Day of the Dead.
A Day of the Dead headdress class at Mannequin Madness. (Image Courtesy of Mannequin Madness)
Normally when people think of mannequins and mental health, it is about the negative ways mannequins make us feel about our bodies. We are changing that narrative by repurposing them in fun and positive ways. Check out Crafting Projects with Mannequins on our website and sign up for a class to add some Mannequin Madness to your holidays this year!
Judi Henderson is the owner of Mannequin Madness in Oakland, CA
Upcoming Reuse Events + Opportunities
November 9 : Santa Rosa Repair Fair
Our next Repair Fair is coming up on Saturday, November 9th from 1-4pm at the Santa Rosa Central Library. If you have an item in need of repair you can register it at the link below. Interested in helping out? We can always use general volunteers in addition to the Repair Coaches! Email volunteer@reusealliance.org or sign up here for more details!
November 22 : Abstracts Due for REMADE Circular Economy Technology Summit & Conference
The third-annual REMADE Circular Economy Technology Summit & Conference is hosted by The REMADE Institute, in partnership with the Ellen MacArthur Foundation and with support from the U.S. Department of Energy. The 2025 Conference will take place Thursday and Friday, April 10-11, 2025 in Washington, D.C. Click the link below for details.
December 20 : EPA SWIFR Grant Applications Due
A new round of funding has been introduced for the EPA Solid Waste Infrastructure for Recycling Grant program. Reuse is clearly called out as an eligible activity.
Do you know a great communicator, who loves attending Repair Fairs, is passionate about reuse, lives in Marin, and is looking for a part time job?
Or is that you? Join Us! Details here.
Reuse in the News
Even if you missed International Repair Day on Saturday you can still rejoice (and/or go deep) into these reports from the Restart Project.
The Responsible Textile Recovery Act of 2024 has been signed into law in California. What comes next? Stay tuned for upcoming opportunities to learn and get involved! Or if you live in LA start this next week at the Textile Exchange Conference.
Reuse to Amuse
We definitely want to make milkglass vase ghosts over here. What are your favorite Halloween upcycling crafts?
Who thinks we need a Reinvention Award for more than just buildings?
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