Sarah Moran, recent graduate from Fashion Institute of Design in Merchandising in Los Angeles, California proves that upcycling fashion is not only good for the environment but a unique and creative way to give repurpose to old clothing and turn each piece into something no one has ever seen.
The fashion world we live in today is always "out with the old and in with the new." But what if there was a way you could take your old clothing and make it into something new and trendy? Well, there is one called: Upcycling.
Upcycled clothing takes old, worn out, or damaged pieces and transforms them into something new and almost better. Upcycling has become increasingly popular in today's fashion industry.
Sarah Moran, a recent graduate and upcycle clothing designer from the Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising in LA, proves that upcycling is not only suitable for the environment but is a creative way to give repurpose to old pieces and transform them into something no one has ever seen before.
About The Designer
Moran is a recent graduate from the Fashion Institute of Design in Merchandising in Los Angeles, California. She has an associate's degree in fashion design, and since then, she has been working in fabric and textile sales and freelance designing and pattern-making in the Downtown Los Angeles area.
Her love and passion for fashion started as early as four years old; she jokes,
"I can remember making outfits for dolls out of socks and towels with glue and whatever else I could find," it's safe to say her upcycling passion started in her early childhood days.
Her inspiration in sewing and designing roots from her family relatives. She explains much of her fascination comes from her Abuela, who was a seamstress herself, "My Abuela was a talented seamstress, and I was told that in my Venezuelan ancestry, I had many talented relatives with such skills from many of her talented family members."
Moran attended her first sewing class as early as eight and continued taking sewing lessons every month for years. She goes into further detail explaining just how she became so skilled in sewing,
"I was enamored with sewing once I was able to create what I envisioned in my head with the help of a mentor who taught me about patterns, cutting, sewing and designing."
When asked about what has been the most influential component in her fashion career, she exclaims that Love to Sew studios in Chadds Ford PA had much to do with how she got to where she is today. Love to Sew Studios is a creative, inspiring environment for aspiring fashion designers. Owner Judi Harris played a role as her role model. Moran states, Love to Sew Studios "is much more than a place to learn how to sew."She mentored and taught several girls who worked hours throughout the year, creating collections and unique looks for an annual fashion show held by the studio. She has been competing in this fashion show since she was eight years old and stated that it was the "most influential experience in her life and pushed her to become a fashion designer."
The Process Behind the Post:
Sarah posts many of her pieces on social media and her Instagram @bysarsar, where her followers can see the before and after photos of her pieces. As someone who has seen her work, I wanted to know what the process behind her posts were. When asked about how long the process is, Moran states,
"This definitely depends on what the end goal/purpose is for the piece." She goes on to explain, "if I am creating something specific for a client there could be a lot of planning that goes into it, and there may have to be multiple fittings/samples made first before the final fabric is cut. This ensures that the fit and design are perfect to the client's liking so as not to waste any time or materials necessary. So the process depending on how difficult could be anywhere from a week to months."
Moran then continues to describe the process explaining that it begins with taking everything apart and seeing what she has to work with.
"I usually drape the textile to see how best it could create a garment/silhouette that would work best with it."
Moran emphasizes the importance of utilizing parts of the already functional piece to save time and efficiency. She says her primary approach to designing is to use what she has in front of her and use them more unconventionally.
"I will place pockets where they normally wouldn't be, but for functionality, it works."
Repurposing clothing is no easy task. But the result is what makes it all worth it in the end. From a soccer ball to a bikini set, an old t-shirt to a cute set, or leather pants to a leather jacket Sarah Moran is the face of creativity in Upcycling clothing. Her designs and her passion are not only changing the perspective of recycled fashion but are an inspiration to new and young designers.
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