Trashion Team Spotlight- Linda of FashionGreenTBags!

Shop Name: FashionGreenTBags

Shop Address: http://www.fashiongreentbags.etsy.com


Tell us a bit about yourself:
I'm ridiculously happily married and have 2 children, Michelle is a 20 year-old college honor student and David is a 17 (almost 18) year-old high school honor student. I'm a 26 year teaching veteran but I'm currently on a medical leave. I began my Etsy business to keep me busy and to hopefully positively impact the environment. I'm passionate about children's rights, children, the environment and reaching out to people of all ages who are in need. I currently volunteer for several senior citizens at a local apartment complex.

Trashion materials: recycled fabrics obtained from clearance or sale items at thrift stores or garage sales.

I transform them into: reusable bags (to replace plastic bags at the grocery/market store.) watches, other miscellaneous items as I think of them. I've also used fused plastic newspaper bags and shredded paper to create my padded laptop case.

How do you do it? (a bit personal, don't you think? LOL) I am not really a seamstress. I make up what I'm doing as I do it. As a result the final products are sometimes the 5th or 1000th attempt.


What inspired you to do this and why are you involved in trashion? I've been concerned about the environment for a very long time. I'm doing everything I can think of to reduce plastic in my life. I think our society is too consumptive and way too highly dependent on material acquisitions for making us feel worthwhile. I think our priorities have become a little mixed-up.

Do you remember the first thing you made using the trashion concept? Yes
What was it? It was a resuable bag made from a t-shirt.

What are your current projects and what is on the horizon? I'm making some bags and I've found some great leather skirts that I want to make into some purses.


Why should people buy handmade, and buy from trashion? Handmade is very special. Since we're all small enterprises, we depend greatly upon the satisfaction of our customers so our products are quality creations and we strive for total customer satisfaction. You don't find that in "big box" stores.

Buying Trashion is a way to feed our desire for new products and have a minimal impact on the environment at the same time. We use very few new materials and recycled packaging so our goods leave micro-mini footprints. Repurposing old materials is an exercise in total creativity. To look at an existing item and envision it as something different is fun and exciting and results in surprising new products.

Thank you for sharing your awesome work with us Linda! Great reuse!

Trashion Team Spotlight- Evy of Thirdhand Designs!

Shop name: third-hand designs

Shop address: www.thirdhanddesigns.etsy.com

Other sites: www.myspace.com/thirdhanddesigns



Trashion materials: I use second-hand clothing and other fabrics to create my designs. Thrift stores, garage sales, flea markets & swap meets are all my favorite haunts.

What do you transform them into? Fun, unique & stylish clothing & bags!



How do you do it? With lots of coffee! No, but yes, I guess that does help! My process starts with the hunt for unloved items with lots of potential. For example, a skirt with a tiny hole, but is in amazing shape otherwise. I lift it up, run my hands through it, hold it in front of me to study it a bit, flip it inside-out, then usually I've got an idea of what I will do with it. Most of my designs require complete deconstruction of the seams, and then, I sew sew sew. With the trusted help of Lucy (my dress form) & a few friends, I adjust to make sure my measurements & dimensions are logical, then voila... the garment has entered its third life!

Do you remember the first thing you made using the
trashion concept? I do!

What was it? I used to take old t-shirts of my dad's & turn them into pillows. Unrelated to my sewing, I also used to take old bottles & melt candle wax down the sides to make flower vases for my mom.

What are your current projects and what is on the horizon? Currently I am working on a couple of aprons for my cousin. She works in a cafe & they allow her to choose whatever style apron she would like to wear, so she gave me free rein! In the near future, I am looking to make more dresses. I love the iconic ideal of the dress! So feminine yet so versatile.

Why should people buy handmade and from trashion? Because we LOVE the earth! It is apparent that we all need to pay a little more attention to the environment and how our actions affect it, and Trashion is a wonderful way to do that. Waste is bad, but we as a society still consume at amazing rates, producing massive amounts of waste; shopping Trashion is one way to satisfy that desire to consume as well as help the environment. We are a group of like-minded creators that produce unique, handmade, eco-friendly items with lots of love... what more could you ask for from a seller!

Anything else you'd like to add? Yes! To all my potential customers, please don't be discouraged to buy clothing on the internet. I am more than willing to help anyone with sizing questions, just send me a message/convo. And no... you don't even need to own a measuring tape, just know your current size! Keep buying handmade!!!

Thank you for sharing your beautiful reconstructed clothing/bags with us Evy!

Trashion Team Spotlight- Interview with Lori from Fisheye!

Shop Address: www.fisheye.etsy.com

Tell us a bit about yourself : I have always seen unusual possibilities in discarded materials. Lately I've found the time and drive to create some of these visions.

Trashion materials: unwanted garments made from linen, cotton, or wool, found buttons, vintage household linens

I transform them into: lots of bags, purses and totes

How do you do it? Well, it involves a lot of space and a big mess, to spread out my possible materials and decide what to do next. Then I cut things up and sew them together. Sometimes I keep elements of the original garment, like pockets, pleats, etc. as part of the bag. It's interesting to recognize the heritage of these pieces.

What inspired you to do this and why are you involved in trashion? I guess the inspiration is seeing really useless garments made from beautiful fabrics. I find things in thrift shops and want to make something new, useful and relevant with this fabric.




What was the first thing you made using a trashion concept? The first thing I remember is taking a plastic mesh onion bag and sewing in a zipper, to use as a purse. This was in maybe 7th grade. Hey, I'm still making purses; have I progressed at all?

What are your current projects and what is on the horizon?
Currently, I'm working through a big pile of linen fabric. It's so great for Spring and Summer bags.

Why should people buy handmade, and buy from trashion? It's a way to own unique, creative items, that have a history and a story, and have been touched by human hands and hearts.











How cute is the strap/zipper idea?!

Thanks for taking us behind the scenes of Fisheye Lori. : ) We look forward to more fabulous repurposed totes and purses!