Before the words upcycling, sustainable, and circular economy were in vogue, hand-made ( in Italian: a mano), and secondhand pieces were passed down from one generation to the next; our family was no exception. Growing up, my grandmothers were exceptionally talented seamstresses, and sewing was a necessary skill for women and girls to learn; at that time, it was considered ladylike and essential. “You never know when there might be a hem or a hole in a shirt that needs mending.” something that my grandmother Maria used to say. Of course, this wasn’t just limited to one culture; it was a relatable trait shared by millions despite different cultural backgrounds.

One of the many dresses that my grandmothers made for me, a cotton baby shift dress with florals paired with a baby tennis bracelet.

This is how my love for vintage and custom-made apparel truly began. As a child, my wardrobe was a mix of hand-stitched dresses and baby clothes from renowned brands like Oshkosh, Levi’s, and others. Yet, the pieces my grandmothers crafted held a special place in my heart; they would spend afternoons at their Singer sewing machines, sifting through old and new fabric and using familiar patterns. Each stitch was a testament to their love and care, and these clothes became more than just garments; they were a part of our family’s history. 

A custom-made “Belle Gown” by Filipino Designer Joel Escober 

Unfortunately, I didn’t inherit their gifts; I didn’t have the patience to stitch, but I did acquire their taste for quality clothing and timeless style. I remember wearing a Peter Pan collar dress with a black-and-white gingham print and hand-sewn yellow sunflowers. It was a dress that I wore a lot, and as I got older, it was later passed on to my youngest sister.

Of course, this wasn’t always the case. As one of my dear friends called it, my wardrobe is a cosmopolitan wabi-sabi of different eras, brands (or no brands), and styles. However, one of the things that has become an integral part of my wardrobe choices is my penchant for having secondhand pieces from my mother, grandmother, and aunties. Admittedly, I still shop, though you wouldn’t find me at Zara or SHE-IN. Most of the time, it might be a thrift shop, a flea market, sometimes a designer’s studio, or at Fay “The Human Swiss Army Knife” Castro’s apartment, working out how we can breathe new life into rarely worn items from my closet. Now, when it comes to upcycling and being stylishly sustainable, there are plenty of ways to work with your forgotten wardrobe pieces by re-working them into different styles and techniques that could change your entire closet without dropping hundreds of dollars on a new wardrobe. 

A 101 on Refashioning

Transforming your old clothes into entirely new pieces isn’t a new idea, but it does require a steady hand and a good eye. In exceptional cases, you can find a great seamstress who understands your thoughts.

 As a passionate advocate of refashioning, I’ve always been part of the creative process. From conceptualizing my ideas on paper to collaborating with my friend, Fay Castro, a talented costume designer and theatre actress, every step is a journey of creativity and self-expression. The process is intricate, and depending on the structure of the dress, it can be a challenge. But the thrill of transforming a piece into something new and unique is always worth it.

Mix and Match so You Don’t Always Repeat

Combining several articles of clothing will ensure that you won’t have a boring wardrobe and will also save you some serious expenses. 

Contrary to popular belief, you don’t need an endless supply of neutral colors to build a great wardrobe. Some of the pieces I have can be hard to wear, but all it takes is a little eureka moment, and voila, I have a new outfit. 

Dye Away

One of the other ways to re-work pieces creatively is to experiment with paint dye. I’ve also been at fault for completely destroying a black silk nightgown in the wash, thinking I’ve killed it since it lost its luster. But despite what many people think. You can still transform “ruined” articles of clothing into an entirely different style. 

Utilizing tie-dye techniques and other appliqués can revive a worn-out pair of jeans, making them edgy and unique.

Be more Creative; Don’t Throw Things Out Just Because it’s Easy. 

How many shirts do you have that you rarely wear? How many trousers have you worn out? Most of these pieces have ended up in landfills or even in goodwill bins, yet these clothing articles are incredibly durable. Imagine you have an old pair of jeans that are so worn out that you could see small patches of fabric ripping away due to age. One of the best things I have ever done is to cut apart those pairs of jeans and turn them into book/pillowcase covers.

Even if these methods do take time, there are plenty of ways to revitalize articles of clothing. In fact, the possibilities are endless!  It’s a great way of creating something beneficial out of something that people would have considered waste.