I have always Repurposing clothes, etc.
I call it recycling. I recycle before the word was invented. Been sewing for 53 years. Started when I was 8 yrs.old. Friends would give us garments and I would ripple them up and make what every I could.
I still doing it all of the time. There is a special feeling you get making something out of nothing. I love shopping at Thrif store, flea markets, garage sale. There are allot of sewing stuff because allot of young folks do not sew.
This is why I have a large stash. I save everything. I am proud of this.
Good Luck on your job. Sound like you would do good and learn allot. God Bless