The UpCycled Fashion Club

After taking a break from design for nearly a year, I've got my creative kooky pants back on (whew, finally; I missed me!) and while researching the current market in EcoChic up cycled fashion I discovered these genius ladies on Etsy.  I am so thrilled to be in such brilliant, glorious company.  Whilst we are all clearly on the same page, I adore the beautiful variety and crystal clear vision of each designer.  

Women making lovely things for other women is a sacred tradition; thank you to all of you whom support our pin pricked fingers. 

Please click through and check them out - maybe even buy something special and guilt free (which is one of the fabulous side effects of eco-shopping, no?!) because you deserve it. 

PinkSunshineShabby

PinkSunshineShabby is a virtual candy shop of deliciousness you can wear.  BLOWN AWAY!

BrokenGhost

Insanely fun, all of her items!

Bowie! Seriously.

ShowDiva

Rock. Star.

SewSomer

Hippie Chic if ever there was!  

Decades ago my sister was gifted a men's tie skirt that we both swooned over and started collecting ties to make.  Neither of us ever accomplished that, but here you go....

AnikaDesigns

I love the bleached out prairie chic vibe.  Stunning.

Already sold, but I had to post anyway because it's so wearable and fun:

WildSkin

CrazyCool!

For all of the nymphettes out there.

And so it is.  
There are so many others, just stroll through Etsy for more treasure.
Thank you for stopping by.  May you wander far and dazzle always.

NEW Tunics & Jackets!

I've been busy and here's the proof:-)  Head over to Etsy and take a peek.

New salvaged denim Jackets

Size Xtra Large, loads of vintage fabric, trim and embroidery

Size Large, Psychadelic 70's fabric, Sashiko stitched patching, vintage '60s & '70s trimmings galore

Size M-Large
Soft, stretchy pale green, fitted with vintage '60s & 70's trimmings

Eco Shabby Grunge T Tunics

Get your Kicks!

Crazy Quilting Stitched Appliques and a ruffled sleeve

Bronco Fan Wear, Sizes Lg and XL/1X

Commemorative

I had the distinct honor of creating a commemorative item for a friend whom lost her mother a few years back.  I was given carte blanche to transform her Mamma's favorite tie-dyed shirt into something more her style.   While at first intimidating - cutting up memories!!! - it rapidly became my favorite commission ever.  Blessed.  Honored.  Flattered.

BEFORE

AFTER

Et VOILA!  A long scarf.  And just in time for Mothers Day. One of my goals was to use every inch of the shirt, especially the neckline and cuffs, which usually get discarded.  I am happy to announce I converted the neckline into a necklace and the cuffs morphed into the posies thereon.  Only a wee bag of scraps were left.  As close to Zero Waste if ever there was! 

Posy Neckline Necklace

      

Scraps

  

END of WINTER SALE!!!

Everything except custom orders are ON SALE!!!  Get your cashmere scarves at a reduced price for next year - $5 off as marked.  

Links are all in our Etsy store to the right of your screen.  Thank you for a wonderful winter season.  Now, let's move on toward spring, shall we? 

Cotton scarves for vegans too:-)  

Zero Waste Fashion - Our Definition

Zero Waste Fashion has become a "thing" in the last few years, but what does it mean exactly?  

I first read about one of the US based pioneers in the field, Timo Risannen, in an NYT article several years ago but had been unknowingly practicing a version of the concept with Jag & Nevie for awhile.  Mr. Rissanen has been teaching and writing on the subject for years now and I adore his blog.

Zero Waste dwells at the intersection of many eco friendly practices briefly outlined in a great series of articles on Seamwork Magazine's site.  Some of these concepts are mentioned below;  cutting, scraps as design elements and using previously manufactured items.

If you Google around you'll find fashion designers whom cleverly design patterns so as to cut fabric in ways that don't discard a millimeter of yardage. Holly McQuillan's work is a great example of this: 

Here she shows how to lay out pattern pieces for several garments in a very complex and effective way. 














Another part of the concept is designing with scraps from the fabric & fashion industry - my favorite example of this is Zero Waste Daniel  whom works and manufacturers in Brooklyn.

Zero Waste Fashion also includes up cycling which is where we come in. Finding beauty in a (re)useful piece of fabric from a discarded t shirt, sweater or pair of jeans is the absolute foundation of Jag & Nevie.

After using large chunks of a garment I incorporate the small leftover pieces as appliqués, fringe, patches, ribbons, what have you.  The studio is overwhelmed with bags & tubs of scraps waiting for their new incarnation;-)

APPLIQUÉS; FLAT & 3-D

FRINGE: T SHIRT FABRIC & CASHMERE

I am so excited every time I find a way to salvage a special texture like sleeve ribbing or a waist band.

SLEEVE RIBBING: CASHMERE HATS

JEANS: HEM AND INSEAM; T SHIRTS (made into a tote bag)

WAISTBAND PILFED FROM A PAIR OF SHRUNKEN BOXERS:-0

In summary, Zero Waste Fashion is just as the name applies - an endless array of techniques employed to prevent, or at least delay, the shameful amount of textile refuse accumulation that is rapidly polluting our planet.  If we wear what we already own until it is beyond salvation and buy from zero waste designers we will care for Mother Nature in the most chic and responsible manner imaginable.  Thank you for doing your part.