WIREDGOV

Draig Tex, based in Mochdre, has been developed by a consortium of three North Wales social enterprises in order to keep the value of the unwanted clothes they collect in Wales, so it can fund the work they do in the community.

Crest Co-operative, Seren Ffestiniog and Antur Waunfawr all collect unwanted clothing to sell in their community shops. Clothing which cannot be resold is exported to Pakistan, East Africa and Eastern Europe where it is reused.  

Before Draig Tex was established the three enterprises used companies outside Wales to export and reuse clothing that could not be resold.  Now the three work together to export the textiles themselves, keeping the value of all the textiles collected in Wales.

Draig Tex is currently working with third sector organisations across Wales to export textiles and has already built strong relationships with charities, who are keen to use the services of a Welsh third sector export centre.

The venture has created thirteen jobs so far including textile sorters, a driver and a textile baler.  It also provides volunteering and job training opportunities for people who have been out of the labour market for a long time.  

First Minister Carwyn Jones:

“Draig Tex is a win win scheme.  It helps to reduce waste to landfill, supports those living in poverty, and gains income for each social enterprise ensuring any profit goes back into the community.  It’s a credit to the three enterprises involved that they saw the opportunity to ensure all the value of the product they collect went back to their communities.  

“It’s also good to see how this has created jobs locally and helped prepare people to get back into the job market.”

Sharon Jones, Chief Executive of Crest Co-operative, who are responsible for the day-to-day running of Draig Tex, said:

“We are delighted that the First Minister of Wales, Carwyn Jones AM has supported Draig Tex by officially opening our unique enterprise.

“Its been 5 months since we opened the doors of Draig Tex and I am incredibly proud of what the team have achieved since then. We have created 13 new jobs locally and as at the end of August we have collected 280 tonnes of textiles.  We are working with 11 charities and social enterprises across Wales, some of whom have multiple shops across our regions.

“Draig Tex’s vision is a simple one, we want to make Wales a better place to live. We intend to do this by keeping the vast wealth that can be generated from exporting textiles within Wales and distributing that wealth to the third sector organisations and charities who collect textiles to help meet their aims for their own charities and local communities."

Draig Tex has received funding from Cyfenter, the Welsh Government’s North Wales Coast Regeneration Area and RWE Rhyl Flats offshore wind farm grant scheme