In fourth grade my teacher Ms. Garcia had a habit of telling “random” stories. Or so it seemed. One day I remember her telling us how during the Great Depression, they were so poor that in an effort to forego needing to buy panty hose, her mother would powder her legs and take an eyeliner pencil and draw a line up the back of her legs. …Giving the illusion that she was wearing hosiery’s when in fact she was not. I’m not sure why I’ve remembered that story all these years but…I have. I’ve heard a few recollections and comparisons to the Great Depression ever since the recent effects of the economy. One woman said that even though things are as bad as they are, we still have no idea what a depression is and should not dare compare these times to those. Being that I didn’t live through the Great Depression, I certainly wouldn’t try to challenge that. Without trying to compare the two time periods, I can only speak on how this economy is affecting things now. More specifically, artists like myself.
My design style has always incorporated practicality. I think because I’ve never really had the luxury of being impractical or doing anything just for the sake of doing it. Thinking about it now, it remains a part of everything I do. I always ask myself what would the piece that I’m creating, do for someone. …How can it give back or work for them? How can it “make a deposit as opposed to only requiring a withdrawal”. This manifests various ways but usually if I can’t answer that question, I won’t make it. Since the recession hit, I think many of us have realized there was a time period that we really took for granted in terms of how well we could earn a living. A time when a good idea or product in combination with some creative marketing was enough. But during these times it’s not enough anymore. But what do you do when this is what you do??? Supplemental part-time jobs of course, hell most of us are back to full time jobs! Even if that’s the case, you don’t stop working as an artist and it’s materials, labor, time and attention that you still must be compensated for. It’s always a battle with consumers: Many are interested in your work, but want to pay the same price they’d pay at target or k.mart really. They don’t understand the time, materials, labor, attention, money and energy, etc. that is devoted to crafting ONE item. But they will go to the mall and get ripped a new one if there is a mainstream brand name attached to it that probably exploited all sorts of poor little children. So now, many of us have been forced to meet people where they are which is not always as cost effective for the one man factory as opposed to being …walmart. I think my work is always very affordable considering it’s all one of a kind wears but the other day I decided I wanted to come up with a practical, affordable, fashionable dress. …Some “recession couture” if you will. Something that wouldn’t take me long to make, wasn’t too expensive, was still fashion forward, flattering, comfortable and versatile.
The first dress is the one piece tee.shirt dress. Contrary to many of these pics you see up here, I live in tee shirts, jeans and/or sweats. And I LOVE my tee shirts, however sometimes after they’ve been around a while, they shrink, I grow, the sleeves get short, they’re not long enough, it’s always something. However, I never want to just throw them away or even give them away. So I came up with this little method of breathing new life into your favorite tees, and coming out of it with a new dress for yourself! For $35 + a tee shirt you provide, I can create a whole new dress from your tee shirt. The pencil skirt bottom you see in this photo is only one of many styles that is feasible for something like this. You may want, fuller, shorter, longer, layered, the possibilities are endless! Maybe you want the top reconstructed too, then voila! Not only did you turn something old into something new, but you recycled your fashion! Green fashion really is important. What do you think happends to all of those orphaned garments after they don’t get re-claimed at the thrift store? They can’t keep them forever and they wanna make a dollar too. So you know what that means after a while, most likely destination land fill.
The second dress I came up with is the 3-in-1 dress, although I’ll bet you can get more than three looks from it, I only shot 3. The components of the 3 in 1 dress are a simple style, affordable fabric and comfort.
Crafted from what I call a pin-stripe “spring denim”, this dress could be effective for work, evenings out, or even worn more casual over pants (I will wear a dress over a long boot cut jean or wide leg pant in a minute), it has the ability to go wherever you want to take it. It can be made shorter, longer or even v-neck. I’m starting these dresses at $65+ for the style and cut pictured. Price may vary according to the fabric used (sorry, all of the denim pinstripe is gone but I can probably find you something just as classy and affordable) and any other adjustments made.
Speaking of conservation and preservation, I think there are a few things we can all do to recycle our fashion and continue to do our part in reducing the waste in those precious landfills. Donating is wonderful and all of that, but here are some other things you can do:
Save the notions (i.e. buttons, zippers, snaps, etc.): Cut off the buttons on shirts that you may want to trash otherwise, especially if they’re unique. Buttons are always functional and you never know when you’ll need one. If you have custom clothing made pretty regularly or you sew, you can incorporate them into a new garment, why buy more? Cut out the zippers (if they work) you can recycle these too or maybe donate them to someone else! If it’s a unique fabric or print, offer it to someone who quilts: Perhaps they can use it in a quilt or pillow even! Especially if it’s clothing that has some sentimental value to you, baby clothes your little one has outgrown, your grandfathers old ties, your grandmothers scarves, etc. Keep you daughters smallest baby clothes to use on her own dolls: Save yourself some time and money in shopping for your “baby’s baby”. Use the baby clothes as teaching tool: these are great to start showing your little one how to zip, snap and button so they may turn around and use those skills to dress themselves! Have your favorite jeans transformed into the good old fashioned reconstructed denim/corduroy skirt: I can’t say enough about the denim skirt. I love them. Comfort? style? versatility? What more can you ask for? I usually whip these up starting at about $25+.
I know all these things may take a little time but, try it. I think I better stop there. I feel my list about to get out of control. In the meantime, who knows? Maybe recession couture will spread like wild fire! It will become a genre unto itself and then one day, many years from now on The Antique Road Show someone will bring in a dress and the appraiser will say something like: “Oh yes, this dress was part of what was deemed “recession couture” you see. Created out of necessity by indie designers that wanted to continue to work, AND EAT when the U.S. had it’s first black president and was trying to clean up the economy. At the the time something like this would have gone for mmm, $60-$65 dollars which was great back then considering it provided 3 different looks you see! I would like to let you know that now, this dress is worth $6500!!”
…Wouldn’t that be a b&$&*&??? After I’m not even here to reap the benefits. Oh well, …C’est la vie. Back to business as usual.
“…Usin’ my 3rd eye in Studio5!” Hope you’re having a great day.
-h.kai
