Tired of the same old clothing options for your kids? T-shirts emblazoned with "GAP?" Yawn. Tank-top declaring your daughter as "Daddy's Little Princess?" Been there, done that.
How about a Led Zeppelin dress for your rockstar daughter? Or a superhero shirt for your son that isn't completely dorky? Now THAT'S what I'm talking about! Pittsburgh designer Jen Primack makes it easier than ever to show off your little one's inner coolness with her handmade line called "Upcycled Designs."
Check out our Q&A with local designer, Jen Primack of Upcycled Clothing:
Your kids' clothing is the antidote to the same old styles you see from Gap, Children's Place, etc. How did you come up with this amazing idea?
I've always loved patchwork. I actually started quilting before venturing into children's clothes. I was intrigued with upcycling (making something new, and even better, from pre-worn clothing) as soon as I heard about it. I got completely hooked after visiting a store in Montreal that exclusively sold upcycled clothes. Then, I put my own spin on upcycled designing by mixing bold colors and patterns, exposed stitching, and vintage t-shirts and fabrics. The kids loved having the seams on the outside for comfort, while the adults were drawn to the nostalgia. You should see people's faces when they see a dress for their little girl made of a Led Zeppelin shirt, a Molly Ringwald movie, or a Rainbow Brite print!
What was your background/experience before you started Upcycled Designs?
I have a Master's Degree in Adult Education, which is pretty far-removed from clothing design and sewing. My husband took an Intro to Sewing class at CCAC and taught me how to sew. At first, I loved making gifts for friends and family. But eventually, with a lot of nudging and encouragement from my husband and friends, I decided to try marketing my upcycled clothes.
What was the first item you made? What was your favorite thing you've ever made??
The first things I made were pillows using my Dad?s old clothes. My Dad passed away about eight years ago, and I found making patchwork memory pillows from his shirts and ties to be very comforting. Sewing is my meditation. I sew almost every day and can?t imagine my life without it. Along the same lines, my favorite thing that I've made was a memory pillow for a 10-year-old boy whose grandmother passed away. The boy's mother told me that he slept with the pillow for a year after the grandmother's passing, and that it really helped in his healing. It feels good to be able to help someone through sewing.
Where do you get the clothing for your materials and what makes you decide whether or not to include a shirt?
I get pre-loved clothes and vintage linens everywhere, thrift stores, Ebay, and my friends. A number of families now drop clothing donations at my back porch. I see the world in patchwork and am always eyeing up fabric, even if someone is still wearing it, for a project.
I like the idea a prolonging the life of discarded clothing, so if I can cut around a stain or imperfection that is what I do. For example, I used worn-out t-shirts from the Square Café in Regent Square and made upcycled shirts for the entire staff. It was a fun project and my kids love seeing the wait-staff wear the shirts Mommy made when we go there for breakfast.
I notice you carry more girls' items than boys'. Is there a reason for that??
I've noticed this too, and so has my son! I can't identify a real reason, but I can tell you that I am developing more boy clothing ideas.
If someone sends you shirts of their own, can you use them to make a custom-designed piece??
Yes, and these are some of the most exciting projects. I recently turned a dad's Metallica concert t-shirt into a dress for his four-year-old daughter. The project was commissioned secretly by his wife, and everyone was pleased with the outcome. Right now I am making custom yarmulkes for a boy's Bar Mitzvah out of his deceased Grandfather's clothes. The family hopes that the yarmulkes will make it feel like the Grandfather is still a part of the ceremony and celebration even though he isn't there. I love custom projects!
Are most of your clients from Pittsburgh or other parts of the country?
My clients are from everywhere. In the two weeks between the playoffs and the Super Bowl, I was mailing Steelers dresses and shirts to fans across the country. I was pulling all-nighters to keep up with the demand. It shows you how much I love sewing because even in college I never stayed up all night. Too bad the Super Bowl didn't go our way,
but there is always next year!
Where can readers buy your stuff??
Upcycled Designs is available locally at My Little Outback (1936 Murray Avenue in Squirrel Hill), Contemporary Concepts (5820 Forbes Avenue in Squirrel Hill) and Equita (3609 Butler Street in Lawrenceville).
I also sell online at etsy.com/shop/upcycleddesign
Any plans for expansion in the future?
I plan on continuing to design upcycled clothes. I?d also like to take old, unsold t-shirts that a school or company plans to discard and instead turn them into new upcycled items. It would be a great way to show kids that recycling is more than putting cans in blue bins; it can be colorful and fashionable!
Tell the truth. Are your kids the cutest-dressed kids in school? Do they have a favorite piece?
This makes me laugh. Our four year old daughter, Sadie, has a style all her own. She dresses herself and always comes up with wild combinations -- often including leg warmers and cowboy boots. If you can remember Punky Brewster, you can have a visual for what I mean. Our seven year old boy, Micah, loves wearing his upcycled shirt with race cars on it. I don't know if he is the best dressed kid in school, but because he has me for a mom, he has definitely worn more
patchwork than any other boy around!
