Pioneering circularity since 2009

Building a Circular Future: A Visit from Oregon Secretary of State Tobias Read

Oregon Secretary of State, Tobias Read views Textile Recycling at Looptworks.

Textile Circularity in Action: Welcoming Secretary Tobias Read

At Looptworks, our mission is to radically transform the textile industry through the lens of textile circularity—where waste becomes opportunity, and discarded materials are reborn as high-quality, premium fibers. This vision came to life in a powerful way during a recent visit from Oregon Secretary of State Tobias Read, who toured our Gresham facility to learn more about our circular process and sustainable innovations.

His visit was not only a moment of pride but also a meaningful step forward in aligning public leadership with environmental responsibility and business innovation.

Government and Industry: A Powerful Partnership for Textile Circularity

Transitioning to a circular economy is not something any organization can do alone. Secretary Read’s visit highlighted the vital role that the government can play in supporting and amplifying the efforts of circular businesses like Looptworks.

As we walked through the facility together, we discussed how textile circularity is central to achieving Oregon’s sustainability goals—from reducing carbon emissions and saving water to diverting tons of usable textiles from the waste stream. The alignment between our mission and the Secretary’s commitment to a resilient, eco-forward Oregon was both energizing and affirming.

Closing the Loop: How Textile Circularity Reduces Environmental Impact

One of the key conversations during the visit focused on the environmental advantages of textile circularity. At Looptworks, we intercept excess textiles—materials that would otherwise go to landfill or incineration—and convert them into circular fiber. These fibers are then used to create new textiles, products, and materials that reenter the economy with a drastically lower footprint.

By doing so, we significantly reduce the need for virgin materials. This means less water consumption, lower greenhouse gas emissions, and fewer destructive extractive practices like cotton farming and synthetic fiber production. In other words, every pound of circular fiber we produce is a pound of environmental harm avoided.

The Bigger Picture: Textile Circularity as a Scalable Solution

Importantly, textile circularity isn’t just an innovative niche—it’s a scalable solution to a global problem. During his tour, Secretary Read saw firsthand how our systems are designed to grow and integrate into regional and national textile ecosystems.

As we continue to expand, we’re not just reducing waste; we’re building a regenerative economy—one that supports jobs, communities, and the planet. It was exciting to share this vision with a state leader who understands the power of forward-thinking policy and public-private partnerships.

Looking Ahead: A Shared Commitment to Circular Innovation

Secretary Read’s visit reinforced a shared belief that innovation, when paired with collaboration, can lead to lasting systemic change. We are deeply grateful for his time, curiosity, and support. His interest in textile circularity sends a clear message that Oregon is ready to lead on sustainability.

At Looptworks, we are more motivated than ever to continue pushing boundaries, refining our circular fiber systems, and partnering with those who believe in a better way forward.

Excess Jeans are getting prepped to be turned back into denim fiber.
Tobias Read viewing bales of recycled textile fiber.

Thank You, Secretary Read

We extend our sincere thanks to Secretary Tobias Read for visiting our facility and championing the cause of textile circularity in Oregon. Together, we can accelerate the transition toward a circular future—where waste is eliminated by design, and resources are used to their fullest potential.

Let’s build that future, one reclaimed fiber at a time.

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Old jeans can be repurposed into a variety of new products, breathing fresh life into the fabric and reducing waste.
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Denine Pezone

Strategic Partnerships/Sales

Denine has over 20 years of experience driving new business opportunities for leading companies, including E.I. DuPont de Nemours & Company, Inc., The Dow Chemical Company, Outlast Technologies, and DST Systems. She holds a BS from the University of Pittsburgh and a Certification in Executive Management from the Kenan-Flagler School of Business at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

Headshot of Tami Bringman, Chief Financial Officer at Looptworks.

Tami Bringman

Chief Financial Officer

Tami is a senior accounting leader with over 16 years of experience in the manufacturing and textile industry. Her specialties include process development and implementation, mergers and acquisitions, job and project costing and analysis, and managing complex teams and technical projects. Tami has served as Chief Financial Officer and Controller for a variety of innovative companies, where her analytical skills and strategic mindset helped organizations create efficiencies in their financial systems.

Headshot of Kelley Purdy, Vice President of Partnerships at Looptworks.

Kelley Purdy

Vice President, Partnerships

Kelley is a passionate and strategically minded business development leader with more than two decades of experience in the sporting goods apparel industry. He has experience in product construction, league partnerships, retail relationships, supply chain management, sustainability, circularity, and carbon footprint management. Kelley builds successful partnerships by putting the customer first while simultaneously advancing his organization’s business objectives.

Suzy Off: Operations Director for Looptworks

Suzy Off

Chief Operating Officer

Suzy is a product leader and operations expert with more than 25 years of experience in the textile industry. She is passionate about finding creative solutions to complex problems and motivating people to action through vision, strategy, collaboration, and communication. Suzy has proven expertise in product development, sustainability, marketing, supply chains, and innovating processes and best practices to drive results.

Headshot of Scott Hamlin, Founder and CEO of Looptworks.

Scott Hamlin

Founder & CEO

Scott is a visionary leader with more than 32 years of experience in strategic branding, innovative product creation, supply chain sustainability, and sales and marketing for global organizations. He founded Looptworks in 2009 as an industry solution for turning excess materials into upcycled consumer products. In 2022, Scott transitioned the company to a B2B business model focused on eliminating global textile waste through closed-loop solutions.

Headshot of Scott Hamlin, Founder and CEO of Looptworks.

Scott Hamlin

Founder & CEO

Scott is a visionary leader with more than 32 years of experience in strategic branding, innovative product creation, supply chain sustainability, and sales and marketing for global organizations. He founded Looptworks in 2009 as an industry solution for turning excess materials into upcycled consumer products. In 2022, Scott transitioned the company to a B2B business model focused on eliminating global textile waste through closed-loop solutions.