A Few Reconstructed Favorites

Here are a few of my current reconstructed favorites on Etsy (aside from my shop of course 😉 )

JunkhouseDollyard

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

LillianDietel

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

DolledUpDesigns

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I know… why would I post photos AND links of other reconstructed fashion designers? 

Simple… I would love to bring more traffic into the world reconstructed fashion. I know that I’m just one person and can not clothe everyone out there, so I hope those that don’t shop my store will at the very least check out the awesome ones above!

Story Behind the Reconstruction

Although I started this blog after my latest post to my Etsy store, I thought it would be fun to post stories behind the reconstructions with before & after shots. So, for this first story about the apron there won’t be any before photos, just the after ones.

This half hostess apronis honestly the cutest little apron! I reconstructed it from a valence piece that I found at a local thrift store, along with a peach colored sheet. I actually bought the whole valence, so I will probably be making more of these. Valences are swoopy half circle pieces that make up drapes… can you imagine a bunch of these aprons hanging over your windows?!?! I swear, some patterns for draperies are just so not appropriate! But thankfully for us “upcyclers” it is a sturdy weight cotton that looks fabulous as an apron. I’ve always held the belief that aprons can be a bit more funky than everyday wear, because they are worn for a short amount of time and they’re there to get dirty.

I designed this one to ride a bit higher on the torso than the traditional half apron, as I often will spill stuff right on the top line of normal half aprons. Also, this one will wrap around most torso sizes with its splendidly long ties. The wrapping of the ties adds a flattering effect to the waistline & matches perfectly with the flirty a-line style of the apron. Bon apetite!

Buying Handmade Clothing

As a consumer, I know that buying handmade clothing has a sort of stigma surrounding it as inferior. But, as a creator and seller of handmade clothing I can guarantee that this stigma of inferiority is very far from the truth! In fact, breaking away from the normal mass-produced clothing allows the consumer a chance to express individuality without compromising quality.

I can’t speak for everyone who creates and sells their handmade goods, but I can say that so much love, care and time goes into every one of my re-creations that I consider them to be of the highest quality. If you think about it, even the big box chains that outsource their creativity and production are having their items made by hand, by someone, on some machine. The big difference between them and small indie businesses like myself is simply that I have an emotional investment in each piece. I want each piece to be a great representation of what I do as a creator and designer, and the love will show in my work.

More often than not, handmade clothing comes from independent business owners and designers that have a creative flair apparent in the designs. This individuality offers a break from the “normal” fashion sold in big box retail stores. I’m not saying that the consumer of handmade clothing needs to stand out from a mile away in a kind of frankenstein-ish creation (although, if that’s your thing…), but instead I’m referring to the slight tweaks here and there that make the handmade creations unique.

The other aspect about handmade clothing that I absolutely love, and that I’m sure those who buy do too, is the customizable sizing option often available. I really couldn’t tell you how many times I have tried on 50+ pairs of jeans in one shopping session and have all of them not fit! Instead of all that hassle, the consumer will often have the option of doing some simple measurements on themselves, sending them in to one of the many handmade custom clothing stores, and receive the perfectly fitting pair of jeans (or skirt, dress, shorts, shirt, etc..)!

So, let’s drop the stigma and give handmade clothing a shot!

A few words about reconstructed fashion…

Reconstructed fashion is the product of dismantling used or vintage clothing & re-creating them into new pieces or accessories. The results of reconstruction are unique & distinct items that will set apart the owner from the common sweat factory produced big box store look. The desigers of reconstructed fashion add their own style to the textiles to make it more personal & appealing as well as find a new use for them.

There is also an eco-friendly side to reconstructed fashion. By reconstructing clothing into new fashions, designers are contributing to the lessening of waste produced by the fashion industry. Styles change so frequently, & with that comes items that get left by the wayside to begin their long hibernation until the next recycling of fashion (bell bottoms, skinny jeans, high waisted pants), that it’s no surprise there is a multitude of waste! With a tweak here, a cut there & a few more stitches “once loved” can easily become “re-loved”.

The uniqe style of reconstructed fashion can be overwhelming to someone who has never experienced it. It’s understandably hard stepping out of the normal, everyday look into the reconstructed realm of fashion; but it’s not impossibly hard. There are a lot of reconstructed looks out there for the “simple” fashionista as well. Not all reconstructions are Frankenstein-ish creations!