Your clothes have memories. We save them.
The ORIGINAL Memory Bear Company
Clothes—like photos, songs and even smells—hold memories from the times when we wore them: baby's coming home outfit, concert or event t-shirts, wedding dress, grandpa's flannel shirt. They're tucked away in bins and boxes, but wouldn't it be better if you could see and feel those memories every day?
The Patchwork Bear turns your most sentimental clothes into memory bears.
We are the ORIGINAL memory bear makers, transforming cherished clothes into keepsakes since 2003. Known for creative design and impeccable sewing, we've created thousands of bears and saved countless memories.
Elevated upcycling. Sentimental keepsakes. Instant heirloom.
The Patchwork Bear - recycled, remade, remembered.
We turn your cherished clothes into a Memory Bear
Give the gift of memories
Want to give the gift of memories if you don't have their clothes?
With our best-selling MEMORY BEAR GIFT KIT, all the recipient has to do is send us their clothes in the mailing bag provided. Also included with the gift kit: tips on choosing clothes, order form to write special requests, and free personalization.
In a few weeks, they receive a memory bear made entirely from those clothes and you just gave them the best gift ever- the gift of memories.
New Baby | Graduation | Wedding | Retirement | Bereavement
Trusted since 2003
Your clothing & memories handled with love & care
We know it's hard to part with irreplaceable clothes, and we don't take that responsibility lightly. That's why we go above and beyond to ensure the safety of your clothes from start to finish. All keepsakes are made in our professional sewing studio based in the Princeton, New Jersey area and packages received are signed for and kept securely indoors. Finished keepsakes are shipped with tracking information and you're kept in the loop every step of the way.
Meet the Maker
Hi! I'm Jennifer Cura and I founded The Patchwork Bear as a creative hobby while my kids were little and I worked as an architect. The constant thread (pun intended) in my life is design. Whether it's in buildings, fabrics, gardening or meals. I love the craft of putting together disparate pieces to create a cohesive whole.
Repurposing clothes to preserve memories captures so much of who I am. It's sentimental. It's good for the planet. It incorporates thoughtful design. It brings people together. I love getting to know you through the clothes you send and find purpose in the connection made over shared stories, particularly those who are grieving. Being able to create something tangible to hold of a cherished memory is so rewarding.
As my children have grown, so has The Patchwork Bear. I've curated a team of talented designers and sewists who share my mission of saving the memories that your clothes hold. I can't wait to make something for you!
Sustainable Business
We're a small, woman-owned business and each keepsake is handmade with love. When you buy from us, you support our small business's dream. We make every effort to source our materials locally and purchase from like-minded ethically conscious companies.
sustainability
Sustainability and sentimentality are at the heart of what we do and we're proud to be registered as a New Jersey Sustainable Business. Upcycling clothes helps keep some of the 21 billion pounds of textile waste out of landfills annually.
It's a small part, but as Van Gogh said, "Great things are not done by impulse, but by a series of small things brought together."
As seen in
