2018 — Asking the Right Question

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The idea for CycleUp came directly from volunteers and service users at the Roscommon Women’s Network Charity Shop.

 

While volunteering in the shop, the women noticed the large volume of clothing that remained unsold and was collected by textile or “clobber” vans. They began asking an important question: what actually happens to all the clothing that cannot be sold?

 

When they learned that some of these textiles could ultimately end up in landfill, they decided it was time to explore a better solution. Research into the environmental impact of textile waste showed that diverting even a small proportion of discarded textiles from landfill could produce significant carbon savings.

 

This led to a fact-finding visit to the Rediscovery Centre, Ireland’s National Centre for the Circular Economy, where the group learned more about reuse, repair and upcycling. What began as a simple question in a charity shop soon became the starting point for a new community-led environmental initiative.

 

2019 — Launching the First Upcycling Pilot

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In 2019, the RWN Textile Upcycling Pilot Project was launched.

 

The project was co-funded through Local Agenda 21, the Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment, and outdoor clothing company Patagonia. It also received support from Galway and Roscommon Education and Training Board, Roscommon Environmental Network and the Rediscovery Centre.

 

Participants began learning how to sort, deconstruct and redesign unwanted textiles. Clothing that could no longer be sold through the charity shop was transformed into new products, including bags, accessories and homeware.

 

The initial aim was to create products that could be sold through the RWN Charity Shop. However, the potential of the project quickly became clear. Textile upcycling could reduce waste while also creating opportunities for skills development, confidence-building, training and employment.

 

These early workshops and products laid the foundations for what would eventually become CycleUp Textiles.

 

2021 — Developing CycleUp as a Social Enterprise

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Following the success of the pilot project and an independent evaluation by St Angela’s College Sligo, Roscommon Women’s Network secured funding from the Environmental Protection Agency under its Green Enterprise programme.

 

This funding supported the WECAN project and enabled RWN to employ a project manager for 12 months to develop and grow CycleUp as an environmental and training social enterprise.

 

During this period, CycleUp increased its production, promoted its upcycled products, expanded its training reach across the region and raised awareness of textile waste and the circular economy through workshops, events and networking.

 

CycleUp also recognised a shortage of experienced upcycling tutors. To address this, six participants completed the QQI Level 6 Training Delivery and Evaluation programme in May 2021.

 

These women, including lone parents and caregivers, were then able to progress into paid work delivering CycleUp training courses and workshops. Some later developed careers as freelance tutors, demonstrating how environmental action could also create meaningful employment opportunities.

 

2022 — A Dedicated Home in Athleague

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In 2022, CycleUp moved into a dedicated production and training space at the Riverside Centre in Athleague, Co. Roscommon.

 

Having a permanent base allowed the project to increase production, expand its training programme and create a supportive working environment where participants could develop sewing, upcycling, administration and employability skills.

 

The team grew to include three part-time Community Employment Trainee Sewing Assistants and two part-time Community Employment Administration Assistants.

 

CycleUp continued to collect textiles that could not be sold through the RWN Charity Shop. The team also began building relationships with businesses that could supply surplus fabric, including upholstery offcuts, fabric swatches and end-of-roll materials from furniture, curtain and textile companies.

 

These materials were sorted, cleaned, deconstructed and redesigned into entirely new products. A single unwanted jacket, for example, could be transformed into three new bags.

 

2023 — Strengthening the Business and Brand

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In 2023, support through Community Enterprise Innovation Grant Scheme funding enabled CycleUp to appoint a Business Development Manager and a Production Team Lead.

 

These roles helped strengthen CycleUp as both a social enterprise and a sustainable Irish brand.

 

The Production Team Lead supported product design, quality, workflow and the development of the sewing team. The Business Development Manager focused on sales, partnerships, marketing, funding and the long-term financial sustainability of the enterprise.

 

CycleUp also expanded its range of products, workshops and training activities while continuing to demonstrate how discarded textiles could become valuable local resources.

 

Traded income grew significantly in 2023, providing clear evidence that there was growing demand for CycleUp’s products and services.

 

2024 — Scaling Our Social and Environmental Impact

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In 2024, CycleUp entered an important new phase of growth.

 

Funding through the Community Services Programme enabled CycleUp to employ a full-time Manager and four part-time Production Assistants. This created greater stability within the team, increased production capacity and provided meaningful employment for people who may experience barriers to entering or returning to the workforce.

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CycleUp also received funding through the EU Just Transition Fund, supporting a number of key roles, including a Business Development Manager, Progression and Skills Coordinator, Production Team Lead and Administrator.

 

This investment allowed CycleUp to strengthen its systems, increase production, expand its training programme, develop partnerships and support participants with skills development and progression.

 

In 2024, CycleUp was also honoured with the RDS Spring Award for Rural Social Impact, recognising its success in combining environmental sustainability with employment, education and community development.

 

2025 — Reaching New Heights

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With an expanded team in place, CycleUp reached new heights in 2025.

 

The enterprise experienced significant growth in sales, production, training activity and environmental impact. Traded income increased significantly year-on-year.

 

CycleUp brought its products to new audiences through pop-up retail spaces across Ireland, including Dundrum Town Centre, Athlone Towncentre and The Canopy in Sligo.

 

The team continued transforming unsold clothing and surplus textiles into beautiful, practical products while delivering workshops and training in sewing, repair, reuse, upcycling and the circular economy.

 

CycleUp’s work also received significant national recognition. The social enterprise received a Pride of Place Judges’ Award and won the Climate and Environment category at the National Social Enterprise Awards.

 

These achievements demonstrated how an initiative created by local women in rural Roscommon could grow into a nationally recognised circular social enterprise.

 

2026 — A New Chapter

 

EU Just Transition Fund support concluded in March 2026, bringing several time-limited roles to an end, including the Business Development Manager, Progression and Skills Coordinator and Administrator positions.

 

However, the growth achieved during the funding period left CycleUp with stronger systems, increased traded income, greater production capacity and a much wider public profile.

 

For the first time, CycleUp was able to retain its Production Team Lead using income generated through the sale of products and training. This represented an important milestone in CycleUp’s journey towards long-term financial sustainability.

 

Support from Community Foundation Ireland, Bank of Ireland and The Ireland Funds also enabled CycleUp to appoint a part-time Retail and Community Engagement Coordinator.

 

In July 2026, CycleUp opened its first permanent town-centre retail space at Unit 2, Hynes Way, Roscommon town.

 

The shop provides a dedicated outlet for CycleUp products while also acting as a welcoming community destination where people can learn more about textile waste, repair, reuse, upcycling and the circular economy.

 

The response to the shop has been extremely positive, opening an exciting new chapter for CycleUp and bringing its environmental and social mission to an even wider audience.

 

CycleUp Today

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Today, CycleUp Textiles is an award-winning social enterprise developed by Roscommon Women’s Network.

 

Our circular process begins at the RWN Charity Shop, where donated clothing is carefully sorted for resale. Items that are unsuitable for resale, or that remain unsold after a period of time, are transferred to CycleUp rather than being discarded.

 

Our production team cleans, deconstructs and redesigns these textiles into new products, including bags, accessories, clothing and homeware. We also work with furniture, curtain and other textile-related businesses to reuse upholstery samples, fabric swatches, offcuts and end-of-roll materials.

 

Alongside production and retail, our experienced tutors deliver workshops and training in sewing, repair, reuse, upcycling and the circular economy. These activities help people develop practical skills, confidence, creativity and greater awareness of sustainable living.

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CycleUp also creates supported employment, training and progression opportunities, particularly for people who may experience barriers to the labour market.

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What began with a question raised by volunteers in a charity shop has grown into a thriving social enterprise that turns textile waste into beautiful products, practical skills, meaningful employment and lasting environmental change.