Showing posts with label recycled fashion. Show all posts
Showing posts with label recycled fashion. Show all posts
Thursday, June 14, 2012
Rescued materials, travel inspired design, functional fashion
(Exerpt originally found on my Etsy.com "About" page)
YazBerry will leave people asking you where you got it!
I was the kid growing up selling dried wild flower bouquets to the neighbors from my wagon. I've always been most content working on creative projects. Sewing, drawing, painting, coloring, building things...One of my favorite games was "business"; I had a wooden box filled with fax cover sheets and blank receipt books.
While in college I had my first run with clothing design. Working in the costume shop at the Skidmore Theatre, my creativity was put to the test creating costumes from thin air based on an idea from the director. I then produced two collections for student fashion shows.
BA in hand and a day job to boot Etsy crossed my path. *light bulb* the perfect outlet for the creative working person. Of course I dream of quitting my day job like most Etsians, but for now the bills must get paid and Etsy is the perfect forum to run my business while I sleep.
I have been transient the last *ahem* nearly a decade; each space I have lived in I have always made room for a studio. My current studio is a dark walk out basement filled with yellow lights and borrowed furniture. My living and creative space are woven into and on top of one another. It works. I thrive in organized chaos.
My favorite materials are discarded clothing found in secondhand shops. Textiles inherited from retired friends and family. Found objects from flea markets and the beach. My absolute favorite thing is to determine the limitations of a discarded item, discover its potential and work it into a functional piece of wearable art.
YazBerry is in essence, a grand recycling experiment; manifested in the form of wearable art. I am a first generation "Reduce, Reuse, Recycle" student and have found it is one of my guiding mantras in all that I do in life. Always finding ways to reduce my impact on the ecosystem and preserve the beauty around us for those to come after.
At the moment I am mostly flying solo on the YazBerry frontier. At times my generous fiance will help with the online shop. My number one fan and best sales person. My mom also helps at art fairs.
I always carry a small notepad and pen with me. I never know when something will catch my eye, inspire a design and need to be captured before my short term memory allows it to float on the wind. I am particularly inspired by architecture, eye catching color combinations in ethnic textiles and the artisan craft of peoples around the world.
I rarely make the same item twice. It feels like a chore and I want your YazBerry creation to be singular in this world. I stand by the promise that YazBerry will leave people asking you where you got it!
Enjoy!
Virginia Berry
Designer * Creator * Picker * Maker
Wednesday, January 05, 2011
Style Ideas: How to Wear an Obi Belt
I can honestly say that obi belts are by far my favorite accessory. Followed by vintage scarves as a close second. I love the versatility they offer with dressing. You can wear them with so many things to give a pop of color or texture to an outfit. They can be used to faux-tailor clothes to fit you perfectly.
Something that I have been pleased and surprised by is how obi belts compliment many body types: I like them to nip in around my waist, which is narrower than my hips and shoulders. They look great on long lanky women around the hips. I also like them on women with rectangular torsos because it creates the illusion of a waist.
Obi belts give you options to change the look of a tunic length shirt or sweater. This is one of my personal signature obi looks. (LOVE IT!). I apologize for the dark images, I am still adjusting to working with the low lighting in my new workspace.
This obi can be found in my store.
I discovered almost accidentally while working in my unheated artist's stall on Artists' Row in Salem, MA, this fall that obi belts look oh so fab topping a classic trench coat. I wore it with this narrower obi in the fall, but am equally as pleased with the funky look the wide obi gives this classic style.
This obi is not yet available in my store, if you love it, send me a note, I would be happy to list it for you.
Because I have broad shoulders and hips and a narrower waist, I tend to prefer looks that nip in at the waist or are well tailored for my silhouette. Obi belts are a quick easy faux-tailoring fix when stuff is just too loose looking. I use them over big, cozy sweaters, fun vintage dresses that are a size or two too big, but the print/look/label was too good to pass up, knit tops that could use a little extra shape.
You name it, I've obi'ed it. Here is a sweater I prefer to wear with an obi. I wanted to show a dress too, but the obi belt I have that looks good with a few of my dresses is MIA for the moment. I am living out of boxes still...things in the house, things in the garage...slowly assembly a life.
Again, this obi belt isn't available in my store yet but I would be happy to list it for you. Just let me know.
I mentioned that obi belts flatter a lot of different body types. Here are several real women, who modeled in my Ahht For Peeps, Wearable Art Fashion Show in Salem, MA this summer. I invited members of the community to model my looks. I took it a step further and encouraged them to pick out the pieces they wanted to model and create a look they felt comfortable wearing. Real people, real fashion.
The first two are what I would describe as lanky women, long and lean with long torsos. One wears the obi with the wide part to the back giving it a low, loose look. The second wears it in front but low, she really makes this apron flavored obi look sassy! Love it.
The model on the left is wearing this obi. The model on the right is wearing an obi not yet available in my store, but if you dig it, let me know and I can list it for you.
These two women have narrow hips and long lean legs. Their torsos are more rectangular in nature, often giving the sense of no waist. Here they both look fabulous in obi belts, which create the illusion of a waist.
The obi on the left is available here. The obi on the right is available here.
P.S. I love taking on custom obi orders. I have a nice selection of authentic antique Japanese kimono obi fabric and a booming stash of vintage neckties. Let me know what you are looking for. I would love to create it for you. berry (at) yazberry (dot) com. I love using recycled materials. Most of my obis are made from either antique Japanese obi fabric, vintage neckties or upholstery samples. I do mix in new materials as well, but find so much inspiration from recycled materials.
My current obi belt collection is available in my store. However, if you saw something in the pictures from my Artists' Row store, chances are it is not yet available online but I do have it, send me a message and I will confirm either way.
Something that I have been pleased and surprised by is how obi belts compliment many body types: I like them to nip in around my waist, which is narrower than my hips and shoulders. They look great on long lanky women around the hips. I also like them on women with rectangular torsos because it creates the illusion of a waist.
Obi belts give you options to change the look of a tunic length shirt or sweater. This is one of my personal signature obi looks. (LOVE IT!). I apologize for the dark images, I am still adjusting to working with the low lighting in my new workspace.
This obi can be found in my store.
I discovered almost accidentally while working in my unheated artist's stall on Artists' Row in Salem, MA, this fall that obi belts look oh so fab topping a classic trench coat. I wore it with this narrower obi in the fall, but am equally as pleased with the funky look the wide obi gives this classic style.
This obi is not yet available in my store, if you love it, send me a note, I would be happy to list it for you.
Because I have broad shoulders and hips and a narrower waist, I tend to prefer looks that nip in at the waist or are well tailored for my silhouette. Obi belts are a quick easy faux-tailoring fix when stuff is just too loose looking. I use them over big, cozy sweaters, fun vintage dresses that are a size or two too big, but the print/look/label was too good to pass up, knit tops that could use a little extra shape.
You name it, I've obi'ed it. Here is a sweater I prefer to wear with an obi. I wanted to show a dress too, but the obi belt I have that looks good with a few of my dresses is MIA for the moment. I am living out of boxes still...things in the house, things in the garage...slowly assembly a life.
Again, this obi belt isn't available in my store yet but I would be happy to list it for you. Just let me know.
I mentioned that obi belts flatter a lot of different body types. Here are several real women, who modeled in my Ahht For Peeps, Wearable Art Fashion Show in Salem, MA this summer. I invited members of the community to model my looks. I took it a step further and encouraged them to pick out the pieces they wanted to model and create a look they felt comfortable wearing. Real people, real fashion.
The first two are what I would describe as lanky women, long and lean with long torsos. One wears the obi with the wide part to the back giving it a low, loose look. The second wears it in front but low, she really makes this apron flavored obi look sassy! Love it.
The model on the left is wearing this obi. The model on the right is wearing an obi not yet available in my store, but if you dig it, let me know and I can list it for you.
These two women have narrow hips and long lean legs. Their torsos are more rectangular in nature, often giving the sense of no waist. Here they both look fabulous in obi belts, which create the illusion of a waist.
The obi on the left is available here. The obi on the right is available here.
P.S. I love taking on custom obi orders. I have a nice selection of authentic antique Japanese kimono obi fabric and a booming stash of vintage neckties. Let me know what you are looking for. I would love to create it for you. berry (at) yazberry (dot) com. I love using recycled materials. Most of my obis are made from either antique Japanese obi fabric, vintage neckties or upholstery samples. I do mix in new materials as well, but find so much inspiration from recycled materials.
My current obi belt collection is available in my store. However, if you saw something in the pictures from my Artists' Row store, chances are it is not yet available online but I do have it, send me a message and I will confirm either way.
Sunday, January 02, 2011
2011 Bodes Well for YazBerry
As of 12:15 AM on the 2nd day of the year, I have already had handmade items featured in 6 Etsy.com treasuries (one self curated)! After a slow holiday gift giving season, this recent positive response to YazBerry bodes well for a successful 2011.
Here are links to the treasuries and the featured items:
My Dangle Earrings - Vintage Metal Beads - YazBerry - Handmade are very popular and one of a kind.
They have been featured in 3 treasury lists so far this year (plus one I curated myself) and will be gone before you know it. There is only one pair so you better get them fast.
New Year's Adornments, curated by Virginia E. Berry of yazberryfashion, featuring jewelry and accessories by HandmadeMN street team members.
Ringing in the New Year, curated by MyShiningStarDesigns.
Features a funky take on New Years.
new years eve partay, curated by nectarjewelry, featuring a very clever collection of images, a work of art itself in a fun montage for New Year's 2011!
Take me to the Ball I'm Ready, curated by workingwoman, featuring ball ready looks with a golden bond.
Happiness in Honeysuckle,
curated by newnance, featuring a vibrant, happiness inducing collection of items with honeysuckle (and other bright colors) in the mix.
One of my favorite colors is Honeysuckle, and Pantone has decided it is their favorite color this year too. Many items in my personal wardrobe and in my collection are Honeysuckle (aka salmon or coral). My Shoulder Bag - Coral Turquoise Beaded Flower Applique - YazBerry - Handmade is featured in the above treasury. This too is one of a kind and there will be no others made like it. The appliques are salvaged from a recycled silk knit shirt, which has become the liner.
And, Fabulous in Minnesota,curated by lightreading, featuring a gorgeous, icy collection of work by Minnesota Artists.
My Obi Belt Reversible- Antique Japanese Kimono Obi - YazBerry - Handmade has been featured on blogs and treasury lists in the past. It is a crowd pleaser and gets great reviews in my feedback. It is a limited edition piece and there is only enough fabric left to make 2-3 more. I use antique Japanese kimono obi's in many of my pieces, which are roughly 12' long and if all of the fabric is usable make 3 - 6 belts (ideally).
Here's wishing you a fabulous, prosperous, healthy and happy 2011! Welcome New Year, I am so grateful and pleased you have arrived.
Here are links to the treasuries and the featured items:
My Dangle Earrings - Vintage Metal Beads - YazBerry - Handmade are very popular and one of a kind.
They have been featured in 3 treasury lists so far this year (plus one I curated myself) and will be gone before you know it. There is only one pair so you better get them fast.
New Year's Adornments, curated by Virginia E. Berry of yazberryfashion, featuring jewelry and accessories by HandmadeMN street team members.
Ringing in the New Year, curated by MyShiningStarDesigns.
Features a funky take on New Years.
new years eve partay, curated by nectarjewelry, featuring a very clever collection of images, a work of art itself in a fun montage for New Year's 2011!
Take me to the Ball I'm Ready, curated by workingwoman, featuring ball ready looks with a golden bond.
Happiness in Honeysuckle,
curated by newnance, featuring a vibrant, happiness inducing collection of items with honeysuckle (and other bright colors) in the mix.
One of my favorite colors is Honeysuckle, and Pantone has decided it is their favorite color this year too. Many items in my personal wardrobe and in my collection are Honeysuckle (aka salmon or coral). My Shoulder Bag - Coral Turquoise Beaded Flower Applique - YazBerry - Handmade is featured in the above treasury. This too is one of a kind and there will be no others made like it. The appliques are salvaged from a recycled silk knit shirt, which has become the liner.
And, Fabulous in Minnesota,curated by lightreading, featuring a gorgeous, icy collection of work by Minnesota Artists.
My Obi Belt Reversible- Antique Japanese Kimono Obi - YazBerry - Handmade has been featured on blogs and treasury lists in the past. It is a crowd pleaser and gets great reviews in my feedback. It is a limited edition piece and there is only enough fabric left to make 2-3 more. I use antique Japanese kimono obi's in many of my pieces, which are roughly 12' long and if all of the fabric is usable make 3 - 6 belts (ideally).
Here's wishing you a fabulous, prosperous, healthy and happy 2011! Welcome New Year, I am so grateful and pleased you have arrived.
Wednesday, December 22, 2010
Katy Perry's Cuffs in December, 2010 Bazaar
Bazaaris my personal favorite fashion magazine. It is the only one I like enough each month to subscribe to. I also enjoy picking up Lucky at the newsstand on occasion to browse the trends and have a soft spot for Cosmo just for the quizzes and sex articles, but Bazaar is my favorite to devour, page by page, yummy haut couture look by haut couture look.
The December, 2010 issue of Bazaar pays homage to the fashionably intriguing Katy Perry. Her bejeweled lips and mug grace the cover and she lines the pages. I was particularly interested in her cuff bracelets on pages 290 and 291, by Designer, Alexis Bittar and available for a mere $175 a pop. They are metal, though I don't know if they are precious metal or not(not available on his site quite yet).
My fiance Steve Phillips and I started making strikingly similar cuff bracelets together this summer from recycled vinyl records. Steve is a vinyl sculptor and makes anything conceivable from recycled (unplayable) vinyl records; bowls, cuffs, rings, wall sconces, clocks, magazine racks etc.
Our cuffs are completely customizable, sustainable in design and sell for $22 with free shipping! Our cuffs are available on my Etsy.com store, here.
Images of Katy Perry Copyright Bazaar Magazine and available here in the full spread, 12.22.10: http://www.harpersbazaar.com/fashion/fashion-articles/katy-perry-style-pictures-1210?click=try&link=katy-perry-style-pictures-1210
Saturday, May 15, 2010
PRESS RELEASE YazBerry Fashion opens store on Artists’ Row, sustainable fashion handmade in Salem, MA.
IMMEDIATE RELEASE Press Release
YazBerry Fashion opens store on Artists’ Row, sustainable fashion handmade in Salem, MA.
Saturday, May 15, 2010, Salem, MA
Designer Virginia E. Berry has been selected from a competitive applicant pool to open a retail and studio space on the City of Salem’s Artists’ Row marketplace at 24 New Derby St., Salem, MA, 01970. She designs under her label, YazBerry Fashion and will open from Memorial Day weekend through Halloween. YazBerry Fashion is sustainable fashion, handmade by Berry in her Salem, MA studio.
Sustainable fashion, like most sustainable concepts, has a variety of connotations. YazBerry’s flavor of sustainability is the recycling of previously worn garments and components into new, wearable art creations. Berry refers to this as repurposing; many of her purses were once shirts or tunics, now lined with gently used curtain panels. She combines these repurposed fabrics with new fabrics, unused vintage fabrics she inherited from her Grandmother and antique Japanese kimono obi fabric.
Berry also works in leather and has developed a technique she refers to as ‘leather lace’ which is a cut leather technique drawing inspiration from Japanese cut paper art and Mexican papel picado. Berry applies this technique to bracelets, necklaces and most recently purses.
GRAND OPENING Memorial Day weekend, open Thursdays – Sundays until 6 PM. Berry will also be offering free classes throughout the season; teaching participants various aspects of fashion design, basic sewing skills, costuming and even some musical activities as Berry is also a musician.
About YazBerry Fashion
Founded in 2006, YazBerry Fashion is vintage inspired purses, jewelry, clothing and more designed and handmade by Virginia E. Berry. Bold colors, striking combinations and intricate details drawn from her travels around the world, flavor YazBerry designs. Berry learned to sew from her Mother and her Grandmother, an avid quilter. She is self taught in jewelry making and leather working.
While attending Skidmore College, she worked in the costume shop under the direction of Patty Pawliczak where she learned to fine tune her pattern design and garment construction skills. She also participated in student fashion shows, which sparked her interest in fashion design. For more information on YazBerry Fashion and Designer Virginia E. Berry, visit http://www.yazberry.com. To shop online visit http://yazberryfashion.etsy.com YazBerry ships worldwide.
-For more information on the City of Salem’s Artists’ Row visit: http://www.salem.com/pages/artistrow
-To view Virginia E. Berry’s portfolio visit & view albums: http://www.facebook.com/yazberryfashion
-For further information and detailed stories on Berry, visit Berry’s blog: http://yazberry.blogspot.com
###
YazBerry Fashion opens store on Artists’ Row, sustainable fashion handmade in Salem, MA.
Saturday, May 15, 2010, Salem, MA
Designer Virginia E. Berry has been selected from a competitive applicant pool to open a retail and studio space on the City of Salem’s Artists’ Row marketplace at 24 New Derby St., Salem, MA, 01970. She designs under her label, YazBerry Fashion and will open from Memorial Day weekend through Halloween. YazBerry Fashion is sustainable fashion, handmade by Berry in her Salem, MA studio.
Sustainable fashion, like most sustainable concepts, has a variety of connotations. YazBerry’s flavor of sustainability is the recycling of previously worn garments and components into new, wearable art creations. Berry refers to this as repurposing; many of her purses were once shirts or tunics, now lined with gently used curtain panels. She combines these repurposed fabrics with new fabrics, unused vintage fabrics she inherited from her Grandmother and antique Japanese kimono obi fabric.
Berry also works in leather and has developed a technique she refers to as ‘leather lace’ which is a cut leather technique drawing inspiration from Japanese cut paper art and Mexican papel picado. Berry applies this technique to bracelets, necklaces and most recently purses.
GRAND OPENING Memorial Day weekend, open Thursdays – Sundays until 6 PM. Berry will also be offering free classes throughout the season; teaching participants various aspects of fashion design, basic sewing skills, costuming and even some musical activities as Berry is also a musician.
About YazBerry Fashion
Founded in 2006, YazBerry Fashion is vintage inspired purses, jewelry, clothing and more designed and handmade by Virginia E. Berry. Bold colors, striking combinations and intricate details drawn from her travels around the world, flavor YazBerry designs. Berry learned to sew from her Mother and her Grandmother, an avid quilter. She is self taught in jewelry making and leather working.
While attending Skidmore College, she worked in the costume shop under the direction of Patty Pawliczak where she learned to fine tune her pattern design and garment construction skills. She also participated in student fashion shows, which sparked her interest in fashion design. For more information on YazBerry Fashion and Designer Virginia E. Berry, visit http://www.yazberry.com. To shop online visit http://yazberryfashion.etsy.com YazBerry ships worldwide.
-For more information on the City of Salem’s Artists’ Row visit: http://www.salem.com/pages/artistrow
-To view Virginia E. Berry’s portfolio visit & view albums: http://www.facebook.com/yazberryfashion
-For further information and detailed stories on Berry, visit Berry’s blog: http://yazberry.blogspot.com
###
Sunday, April 18, 2010
The Average American Doesn't Wear 25% of their Clothes
Sustainability is a passion of mine. I obsessively reduce, reuse and recycle. I'm always excited to discover new ways to increase the sustainability of our planet. This week I discovered an interesting website taking a fresh approach to sustainability.
If you're not quite ready to exchange your clothes in a clothes swap, like I described recently, this site is the solution for you. This site allows you to exchange item for item, based on similar value/style etc. instead of you gambling on finding something you like at a clothes swap. thredUP.com is a Harvard Business School student's answer to the 25% of underutilized assets in our closets.
This is a free service in which members can upload descriptions of the clothes they aren't using. They then rank them based on trend, brand, price etc. thredUP uses these characteristics to find matches in the member database; people who wear the same size or have similar taste. For more specific details, check out their FAQ
What happens once you have a match? You and your match exchange clothes through the mail. If you are looking for an even more focused exchange, they offer account upgrades that allow you to see more specific items before you do an exchange.
My recommendation: start here if you're not sure swapping is for you. Once you get addicted, come join us at clothes swaps and enjoy the sustainable treasure hunt that they are!
If you're not quite ready to exchange your clothes in a clothes swap, like I described recently, this site is the solution for you. This site allows you to exchange item for item, based on similar value/style etc. instead of you gambling on finding something you like at a clothes swap. thredUP.com is a Harvard Business School student's answer to the 25% of underutilized assets in our closets.
This is a free service in which members can upload descriptions of the clothes they aren't using. They then rank them based on trend, brand, price etc. thredUP uses these characteristics to find matches in the member database; people who wear the same size or have similar taste. For more specific details, check out their FAQ
What happens once you have a match? You and your match exchange clothes through the mail. If you are looking for an even more focused exchange, they offer account upgrades that allow you to see more specific items before you do an exchange.
My recommendation: start here if you're not sure swapping is for you. Once you get addicted, come join us at clothes swaps and enjoy the sustainable treasure hunt that they are!
Thursday, April 08, 2010
Newest Recycling Transformation Project
I am fortunate to live in an area with people from many different countries. Which makes visiting the thrift shops fun. I find all sorts of gorgeous garments from other countries. This one is actually a child's size, but has beautiful ornate details. Like the Mola Bag, I knew this garment would become a purse the second I pulled it off the rack. Often fabric, garments and decorative items give me the inspiration for the design...as if the item designs itself.
Here is my latest recycling project. I turned this tunic into a fun triangular tote for everyday use. The liner is made from fabric from my Grandma's Legacy stash and the tote comes complete with pockets for small things, pens and two hidden pockets for secret treasures! Available now in my Etsy store, yazberryfashion.etsy.com
Here is my latest recycling project. I turned this tunic into a fun triangular tote for everyday use. The liner is made from fabric from my Grandma's Legacy stash and the tote comes complete with pockets for small things, pens and two hidden pockets for secret treasures! Available now in my Etsy store, yazberryfashion.etsy.com
Tuesday, March 30, 2010
Sneak Peek at #2
The Trench Coat Project continues. #2 in this one of a kind collection features the brilliant (I think) marriage of the following two vintage garments. I am extremely excited for this recycled fashion project!
Saturday, March 27, 2010
The Trench Coat Project: Unveiling!
*Psst* I leaked The Trench Coat Project idea last week and before the suspense gets the best of you, *drumroll* ... ... ...
Meet Before:
And After:
To purchase #1 in the series visit my Etsy Store.
Born from a freak mistake with bleach leaving one of the lovely large spots you see, I've raised the hem, given it a flirty tuxedo line which is higher in front and gradually gets longer towards the back and have painstakingly hand distressed the giraffe print into the fabric. What I love, is that I left the belts on the waist and cuffs and the epaulets on the shoulders the original color so they and the buttons offer a delicious contrast to the giraffe print. The inside received the treatment too and looks great!
Meet Before:
And After:
To purchase #1 in the series visit my Etsy Store.
Born from a freak mistake with bleach leaving one of the lovely large spots you see, I've raised the hem, given it a flirty tuxedo line which is higher in front and gradually gets longer towards the back and have painstakingly hand distressed the giraffe print into the fabric. What I love, is that I left the belts on the waist and cuffs and the epaulets on the shoulders the original color so they and the buttons offer a delicious contrast to the giraffe print. The inside received the treatment too and looks great!
Thursday, March 18, 2010
The Trench Coat Project
I like to think that out of every mistake is born a great idea. I recently completely ruined a vintage trench coat with bleach while trying to clean off a stain. Devastated, the recycler in me couldn't throw it in the scrap pile because of its fine construction and high quality vintage fabric. So after a week or two of stewing over what to do with it, I came up with The Trench Coat Project.
The trench coat project involves re-tailoring, distressing, adding to, modifying and otherwise updating vintage trench coats to take on a haute couture look and feel. Here is a sneak peek at the first trench coat victim:
Stay tuned in the next few weeks as I unveil the first trench coat!
The trench coat project involves re-tailoring, distressing, adding to, modifying and otherwise updating vintage trench coats to take on a haute couture look and feel. Here is a sneak peek at the first trench coat victim:
Stay tuned in the next few weeks as I unveil the first trench coat!
Monday, March 01, 2010
Clothes Swaps: The Perfect Solution for Frugal Fashionistas
I felt inspired to share my sentiments on clothing swaps because I just discovered I have some link love on Miss Amy, The Bargain Hunter Extraordaniare's blog! Thank you Amy, your blog is fun and enjoyable. Be sure to check it out.
Her current post is about an interesting web based clothes swap Christina from Fabulocity in Amish Country is organizing amongst a group of fashion bloggers. Check out Amy's blog to read the details. What a fun idea. You should also take a peek at Christina's blog for some great outfits!
The above model is a much more organized clothes swap than I am used to and takes some dedication beyond what some frugal fashionistas may be up for, but think it could be a ton of fun. There are two clothing swap scenarios that I would like to recommend to beginning swappers and all frugal fashionistas.
One: the friend clothes swap. You get together with a group of your friends at one of your homes, munchies and bevvies highly recommended. I like to make a party out of any gathering :) Each participant uses the gathering as the best excuse ever for a closet clean out and brings a bag...several bags of their clothes to exchange with the other friends.
The best scenario is if all of you wear about the same size give or take a size or 3 in either direction. Even more fun is if you are each slightly different body shapes cuz something from your closet that looks awful on you might actually look awesome on your bff who has wider hips and shoulders.
The next model is one of my favorites and is soooo much fun too! Miss Punky of Punky Style organizes huge versions of this clothing swap model in the Boston & Worcester MA areas. She actually just teamed up with Melissa of ShoeString Magazine (an excellent source for all things frugal, thrifty and budget friendly) to start a group for clothes swaps. Follow them on twitter @theswapaholics for news on clothing swaps and more!
The large scale clothing swap model requires a large public space, some advertising and a team of people to collect the clothes before the start of the swap and sort them. Best bet is to have a drop off earlier in the day...say 9 AM to 10:30 AM. Then open the swap for collecting the clothes at 11:30 AM. This is the basic idea.
More elaborate ideas include collaborating with area vendors and offering discounts and giveaways to swap attendees to check out in the time between drop off and swap open. Check out the Swapaholics for insight on some of the collaborative models.
Bottom line, clothes swaps are awesome. I personally have acquired some amazing pieces, name brand, vintage, mint condition, rare, unique gorgeous goodies from the clothes swaps I've attended. I am a huge advocate of clothes swaps. Try it!
Recycle, reuse, repurpose and relove clothes :)
Her current post is about an interesting web based clothes swap Christina from Fabulocity in Amish Country is organizing amongst a group of fashion bloggers. Check out Amy's blog to read the details. What a fun idea. You should also take a peek at Christina's blog for some great outfits!
The above model is a much more organized clothes swap than I am used to and takes some dedication beyond what some frugal fashionistas may be up for, but think it could be a ton of fun. There are two clothing swap scenarios that I would like to recommend to beginning swappers and all frugal fashionistas.
One: the friend clothes swap. You get together with a group of your friends at one of your homes, munchies and bevvies highly recommended. I like to make a party out of any gathering :) Each participant uses the gathering as the best excuse ever for a closet clean out and brings a bag...several bags of their clothes to exchange with the other friends.
The best scenario is if all of you wear about the same size give or take a size or 3 in either direction. Even more fun is if you are each slightly different body shapes cuz something from your closet that looks awful on you might actually look awesome on your bff who has wider hips and shoulders.
The next model is one of my favorites and is soooo much fun too! Miss Punky of Punky Style organizes huge versions of this clothing swap model in the Boston & Worcester MA areas. She actually just teamed up with Melissa of ShoeString Magazine (an excellent source for all things frugal, thrifty and budget friendly) to start a group for clothes swaps. Follow them on twitter @theswapaholics for news on clothing swaps and more!
The large scale clothing swap model requires a large public space, some advertising and a team of people to collect the clothes before the start of the swap and sort them. Best bet is to have a drop off earlier in the day...say 9 AM to 10:30 AM. Then open the swap for collecting the clothes at 11:30 AM. This is the basic idea.
More elaborate ideas include collaborating with area vendors and offering discounts and giveaways to swap attendees to check out in the time between drop off and swap open. Check out the Swapaholics for insight on some of the collaborative models.
Bottom line, clothes swaps are awesome. I personally have acquired some amazing pieces, name brand, vintage, mint condition, rare, unique gorgeous goodies from the clothes swaps I've attended. I am a huge advocate of clothes swaps. Try it!
Recycle, reuse, repurpose and relove clothes :)
Wednesday, February 24, 2010
Recycled Cowl Neck Sweater
I felted a wool cowl neck sweater and recycled it into a cute shrug with diagonal opening, exaggerated collar and vintage button closure.
Here it is before and after. The color is truest in the after picture. It's available now in my etsy store yazberryfashion.etsy.com
The dramatic oversized collar can be styled in several ways. Rouching / ruching at cuffs to add flirty shape to sleeves. I love giving new life to fabric items. Click on the above link to see more pictures.
-MATERIALS: Felted 100% merino wool recycled Banana Republic Sweater. Vintage plastic button.
-COLORS: Cappuccino brown wool, blushing champagne button.
-DESIGNED & CREATED BY: Virginia E. Berry
-FITS: X-Small - Small (best for slim arms/narrow shoulders)
Thursday, August 27, 2009
Repurposed: The Art of Recycling Vintage Clothing
In a box of vintage fabric I recently acquired I discovered this cute, mint condition bodice that had once been part of a dress now taken apart. The skirt bits appeared to have been sourced for some creative venture, but the bodice was left intact, with simply a raw edge at the bottom where it once attached to the dress. What do to with a vintage bodice...boring by itself, a little too simple and homely for my vintage taste..."I know, I'll alter it a bit to make it more contemporary". Also, in my stash is a vintage accordion pleated skirt that my friend gave me when she moved. As a skirt it underwhelmed me a bit, but as a trim it had potential.
I cut wide strips from the accordion skirt and carefully arranged it to make this luscious ruffled collar and cute shoulder frills. I altered the bodice and made the neckline lower, raised the hem and opened up the arm holes a bit to make it more comfortable...*drum roll* I present you...my latest creation!
Not only are the garments recycled and repurposed, but the design offers versatility in that both the collar and the shoulder frills can be worn two ways, offering a few options for your look.
I have always enjoyed giving new life to vintage fabric and clothing. Even when I first started designing in college, I used pieces of vintage skirts and other garments in some of my designs as the fabric tends to be rich in color, texture and quality. Today, I have been repurposing antique kimono obis in many of my designs. I also use vintage fabrics in a lot of my purses, especially as liners. Be sure to read my item descriptions as you browse my store as I always mention when I am using repurposed fabric and what it was before. Enjoy!
Love this cropped jacket? It's available now in my yazberryfashion.etsy.com store. Here is the direct link: http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=29856663
Thursday, April 02, 2009
YazBerry Selling New Designs at Design Hive Market in Cambridge, SUNDAY, APRIL, 5!
Event Reminder: Rock your eco-look this Sunday!
FOR MORE INFO ON DESIGN HIVE CHECK OUT THE WEBSITE: www.designhivemarket.com
YazBerry Fashion will be selling many never before seen designs and vintage clothes and purses at this month's Design Hive Market.
Many of my handmade items incorporate repurposed fabrics, antique kimono obi's, vintage scarves as liners and more repurposing can be found!
In addition to our regular music-meets-indie market mashup, on Sunday April 5th, we’ll be hosting the “Get Green and Groovy” event featuring products made from salvaged and recycled materials by local indie designers and a fashion show presented by Fashion With Impact (FWI). FWI will adorn the runway with recycled fashions and debut its Re/fash-en collection of unique garments made from recycled fabrics (fashion show starts at 1pm)
Plus, Autonomie Project, a new Boston-based fair trade fashion company, will have artists on-hand to help shoppers design and paint their own Ethletic custom footwear and screen print their own t-shirts.
Just a quick reminder that we've got some great (groovy & green) events planned for Sunday:
- Sustainable fashion show at 1pm by Fashion with Impact
- Design-your-own fair trade t's and hightops with Autonomie Project
- Live DJ spinning hot tracks all day
Hope to see you there!
*Much of the copy originally found on Design Hive Market event page on Facebook.
FOR MORE INFO ON DESIGN HIVE CHECK OUT THE WEBSITE: www.designhivemarket.com
YazBerry Fashion will be selling many never before seen designs and vintage clothes and purses at this month's Design Hive Market.
Many of my handmade items incorporate repurposed fabrics, antique kimono obi's, vintage scarves as liners and more repurposing can be found!
In addition to our regular music-meets-indie market mashup, on Sunday April 5th, we’ll be hosting the “Get Green and Groovy” event featuring products made from salvaged and recycled materials by local indie designers and a fashion show presented by Fashion With Impact (FWI). FWI will adorn the runway with recycled fashions and debut its Re/fash-en collection of unique garments made from recycled fabrics (fashion show starts at 1pm)
Plus, Autonomie Project, a new Boston-based fair trade fashion company, will have artists on-hand to help shoppers design and paint their own Ethletic custom footwear and screen print their own t-shirts.
Just a quick reminder that we've got some great (groovy & green) events planned for Sunday:
- Sustainable fashion show at 1pm by Fashion with Impact
- Design-your-own fair trade t's and hightops with Autonomie Project
- Live DJ spinning hot tracks all day
Hope to see you there!
*Much of the copy originally found on Design Hive Market event page on Facebook.
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