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- Jan 29

RedesigN: EMBELLISHMENT + REPAIR

We are always inspired by Japan, everything from its art to its philosophies of design makes us want to keep creating. This month's Other Lives redesign workshop took inspiration from Kitsungi and Sashiko, two Japanese mending art forms.

Kintsugi is the art of highlighting an object's history and imperfections by mending it with gold. Flaws and areas that need mending are seen as an opportunity to create an element of beauty.

Sashiko and Boro also provided a tremendous fountain of reference for this workshop. Both are functional embroidery techniques that were created out of practicality to reinforce and mend old garments in the Edo Era in Japan. Designers such as Maison Margiela, Yohi Yamamoto, Haider Ackerman and Jil Sander have used similar embellishment techniques for hand stitching details on the runway.

Sashiko by Sashi.Co

19th Century Boro

Maison Margiela FW11 Couture

Yohji Yamamoto SS09

Haider Ackermann FW15

Dior Homme FW16

Jil Sander SS08

Embroidery repairs can be taken as far as the imagination will take you. We love these runway embroidery details from some of our favorite designers.

James T. Merry

James T. Merry: Metal Moth headpiece for Bjork

Maison Margiela FW14 Couture

Phillip Lim SS14

Don't know what to do with that torn tee or want to repair a pair of jeans? Sign up for the workshop here!

March 6, 2024

Learn how to repair your clothing through embellishment. In this workshop, we will teach you how to update and revive torn pieces in your wardrobe through hand embroidery. We will work on hand sewing backing, beading and handmade embroidery.

Bring what you have and your curiosity and we'll create something new together!

- Jun 9, 2023

FABRIC PAINTING MOOD

Remember when you were a kid and you had the time of your life painting nothing in particular, just for fun? Well, fabric painting brings us back to that feeling. We've been so inspired by the creative freedom of abstract painting (as well as the presence it brings) and think its the perfect way to redesign a retired piece in your closet, and an even better way to hide un unsightly spot you can't seem to get out of your jeans. We are creating a workshop around this process and cannot wait to share it with you this summer. Our inspiration comes from runway pieces from Alexander McQueen, Christopher Kane, Margiela, Off-White, Marni, Bottega Veneta and Yohji Yamamoto. Here are some of our favorites, starting with the most iconic runway moment from Alexander McQueen's 1999 No.13, featuring Shalom Harlowe being painted by Robots.

Alexander McQueen

Celine SS17

Maison Martin Margiela

Marni

Christopher Kane

Off-White SS20

Dolce & Gabbana FW20

Bottega Veneta

Yohji Yamamoto AW13

- Feb 11, 2023

RESIZING WORKSHOP: LACING

Updated: Feb 22, 2023

We are back on our resizing game, this time through lacing. Lacing has been used in adjusting fit since the inception of clothing, and as design detail for decades. Some of our favorite moments and earliest memories of it were in the 90s and early 2000s (Aaliyah's ICONIC 'More Than a Woman' video to be exact).

In our next workshop, we will teach you how to use this detail to add (or remove) and inch or two so your favorite pieces won't get abandoned at goodwill just yet, and you create a fit that works for you (there is no room for uncomfortable fits in 2023).

We've collected some of our favorite examples of lacing to inspire you on this redesign adventure, starting with the queen of lacing herself, our favorite, Alabama Blonde.