Can we talk about how thrift store finds can shape a whole collection?

I picked up a set of old curtains from a yard sale in Austin for five dollars, just for the fabric. The pattern was this faded floral print that felt dated. I cut it up and used it as accent panels on the sleeves of a simple denim jacket I was working on. The mix of tough denim with those soft, vintage flowers completely changed the jacket's feel from basic to one-of-a-kind. It made me see how adding just one unexpected textile can give a piece a whole new story. What's the best 'found' material you've worked into a design?

2 comments

2 Comments

christophers278d ago

That "whole new story" part is so true. I once used a ripped canvas tent for a bag lining, and the smell of campfire smoke still comes out on humid days. It's like the material brings its own ghost with it.

dylanh978d ago

Honestly, my best find was a bunch of old, stained neckties from a church basement sale. Tried to make a patchwork vest, but my sewing skills were not up to the task. Ended up with something a toddler would reject for being too lumpy.