Ever since I was a teenager, I have loved thrifting. During my high school years, I was taught how to sew. So, when I became a parent, my love of thrifting, mixed with my sewing abilities, started my interest in constructing costumes for my daughters. It was exciting to see how thrift store items could be recreated and reshaped into magical costumes for play. Staying with this theme of upcycled fashion, this is the focus for April’s Earth Month installment.
NEW: INTERVIEW with PATTERN NATION’S Cyd Eva
Recently, I met some incredible local artists from Vancouver, BC, who share this same love of upcycling. Of course, I noticed the clothing they are producing was not only utilitarian, but it was art. I also noticed these wearable art pieces found their way into galleries such as Beaumont Studios. Check out Pattern Nations‘ latest contributions featured until April 6th.
Upcycled Fashion in the 20th Century
In 1994, the term “upcycling” found its way into the North American vocabulary. It referenced the idea of taking old items and giving them a new life. This repurposing involved anything from building materials to art projects. However, this idea is as old as when humankind bridged into existing as homo sapiens.
In the 1970s, we saw how upcycled clothing became fashionable. New jeans became passé, as reinvented patchworked jeans became “all the rage”. The more patterns and variety of reusable fabrics that resembled curtains or other linens, the better. The motivations were based on counterculture and climate activism.
Now, let’s harken back to the early 1900s to 1945 during the depression, including the two world wars. Upcycled fashion was common. Economics was the impetus for repurposing in this era. For instance, a main slogan, “Make, Do and Mend”, was conceived by the British Ministry in 1943 during World War II. This ad campaign was in support of “a culture of frugality and resourcefulness.”
Upcycled Fashion: Back to Beginnings
In the 18th and 19th centuries, it was common for women to hand down silks for repurposing due to the costs of the fabric. During the 18th century, the robe à la française or sack-back dress was born. This dress was full of reusable fabric, and it was one of the primary pieces in most women’s wardrobes. Many garments would be passed on from generation to generation as high-quality silk fabrics were difficult to find.
Finally, it is common knowledge that the earliest humans used furs and plants for clothing. After a day of hunting and foraging, the clan’s people would utilize every part of an animal they caught. These items included skins, bones, and shells. The items would be used to protect and embellish clothing for clanspeople.
Finding and Making Upcycled Fashion
UpcycleCo follows the creative platform of taking secondhand pieces and recreating them into fashion wear. They are situated in the Fraser Valley, and their “brand is dedicated to giving new life to secondhand denim and textiles.”
Lennon and Lime specializes in kid designs. This company was started when a former hairstylist mother wanted to design fun and unique clothing for her children. Many people began asking where they could find similar items. Recognizing her passion was in creating fun pieces for kids, the brand was born.
Pattern Nation offers clothing and workshops on how to upcycle. Cyd Eva and Brianna Mend Klassen will host a two-hour creative fashion design workshop at The Slice of Life on Venables. The next workshop will be coming up in May. Click here to find out more.