Molly Reinhardt was helping a fellow design professional pack up to move across the country when she came upon a stash of unwanted textile samples—which gave her an idea. “I thought, ‘Instead of tossing all this expensive fabric into the landfill, what if someone turned it into something beautiful?’” she says.

That simple question led Reinhardt—who has managed Denver-area design showrooms for decades—to her longtime friend (and talented seamstress) Cyndi Marty, and together, the pair decided to launch a business—MC Pillows—that recycles thousands of yards of fabric into custom throw pillows. Showrooms, interior designers, and upholsterers give the company discontinued samples or extraneous yardage (from such high-end manufacturers as Schumacher and Romo), and MC Pillows’ small team of local seamstresses whips up pillows in various shapes and sizes that range in price from about $50–$125—“a steal when you consider that much of the fabric retails for well over $200 a yard,” Marty says.

5280 Home April/May 2021
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In addition to indoor throw pillows, customers can get custom-made outdoor pillows, bench cushions, and even dog beds. “With all our projects, we’ve probably rescued about 3,000 pounds of fabric from [being thrown in] the landfill,” Reinhardt says. The duo offers free in-house or virtual consultations to clients who need help choosing the right colors and styles for their spaces. Customers can buy pillows the company stocks—the inventory changes rapidly as new fabrics become available—or schedule an appointment at the new studio inside Marty’s Parker home, where clients can browse stacks of available fabrics and dream up one-of-a-kind designs. As Marty says, “It’s luxury—in a pillow.”

This article was originally published in 5280 Home April/May 2021.
Hilary Masell Oswald
Hilary Masell Oswald
As the former editor for two of 5280’s ancillary publications, Hilary Masell Oswald split her time between the vibrant design-and-architecture scene in the metro area for 5280 Home and the always-changing field of health for the annual 5280 Health.