Tell me a little about your designs:
The first one I made was dress made out of a shirt and a skirt that were too small. I sewed them together to make a dress for my sister.
The 2nd, I wanted a denim skirt, so I took old jeans and put them together as panels, I then added a piece of flannel that was left over from another project. I was also to create some balance, texture and interest, as it is a contrasting fabric and a different length.
With corset, I wanted to add sleeves, so I took an old shirt and used that, because I thought it would look cool. And it does! With the corset, it’s a satin corset with roses, mixed with a flannel shirt. The corset is feminine and the shirt more masculine. It kind of represents that part of me that doesn’t care about gender stereotypes.
What styles are you influenced by?
The 1950 rockabilly era. I like this because it shows off who I am. I feel comfortable in this style. I’m not sure exactly why I love this, I’ve just always felt like this is my style, it’s normal for me. I guess I love movies that have this style, my favourite movies growing up were Grease and Dirty Dancing. Something about these movie feels happy! Tatoos and cars, all of that. Tatoos are ways of telling a story.
What is your process?
I went through magazines, the internet and books, and found designs that I really liked. The styles I was drawn to denim, jackets, skirts, but more so than the styles, I was intrigued by how you could take something and make it into something else.
I then took my materials (clothes ready for upcycling) and cut them up and used them to make the new pieces. It was clothing that I had already worn, in styles that I didn’t really see myself in, but the colours were ones I liked. So, it meant they went together. I hand sewed them together. Sewing machines are scary! So hand sewing was really relaxing. Breathing and sewing and connecting back into myself.
Are there particular pieces that you especially love? Why?
I love them all! I love them because they bring out more of who I am. Fashion is a creative outlet, based on a person’s view on it. If you don’t feel like you have to ‘fit in’, it’s freeing. My view of life is, love who you love, be who you are, don’t put labels on people. My political view of everything at the moment feels like we are going backwards. People have fought hard to get where we are today in terms of gender and sexual identity. There are things happening in the world that feel like a time loop. We are repeating the Westernisation of ‘how things should be’. I don’t think that life is one way, people have different views and ways of being and they should be able to do that. Fashion should be part of who YOU are, rather than something that tells you who you are.
What is upcycling for you? What are the benefits of it? Upcycling means I can keep and reuse clothing that I love, but in a style that I love. For example, the purple jeans, I’ve worn them for three years and don’t love them anymore. Making them into a skirt meant they are now in a style I love.
The benefits of upcycling are that it keeps clothes out of landfill and challenges us to make things into something new that we will wear again.
For me, being able to upcycle, it puts me in touch with my creativity. It’s arty and I really enjoy creating.
What’s next on the design table?
I’m not sure yet!
How has this project helped you to think differently about waste?
In general, I think I have a unique way of thinking. Yes, I’ve looked at how much we waste. I’ve always upcycled, so I already had this mentality. When I was little, my Nan made my clothes out of fabric she had. The mentality was use what you have. We didn’t have a lot of money, so we had to use what we had and use it wisely.
Do you feel influenced by your Nan?
My Nan was my hero growing up. The things she taught me have stuck with me over the years. Often, I will ask myself, what would she do or say in this situation.
Any other influences?
Before my Mum had all her kids, she was into fashion. I am influenced by her style, it helps me think about how I want to do stuff.
What would be your advice to other people interested in upcycling?
Give it a shot! It might benefit you, it could be just what you are looking for. You are making less waste, being more creative, putting your view into things. It can bring out who you are, it’s self-expression.
