“Ecocycle”
SCOBY Leather Purse (2021)
I designed this purse pattern for SCOBY leather. I grew the SCOBY over the course of a couple of months through the process of making kombucha. From there, I dried the SCOBY into leather and cut it to my purse pattern. I then wet the edges of my pieces and sewed them together using 100% organic cotton.
Dog Hair Tank Top (2021)
I designed this tank top pattern for wet felting. I collected dog hair from the Petco grooming center, then I thoroughly cleaned and dried it. I covered my design with a translucent sheet and laid out tufts of fur in an overlapping pattern in the shape of my tank top. From there, I covered the dog hair in water and laid a mesh sheet over it, where I used a sponge and soap to agitate and intertwine the fur as a part of my wet felting process. Once the fur was bonded, I let it dry and attached the pieces of fabric together.
Recycle
Paper Pulp Sandals (2021)
After learning about the process of making paper, I decided to experiment with sculpting paper pulp by mixing it with flour to create a paste. I then molded the paper pulp paste into the shape of a sandal and let it dry.
“Plarn” Tote Bag (2020)
I collected old plastic grocery bags that friends and family had saved. With the help of Youtube tutorials, I began the process of learning how to turn plastic bags into plastic yarn, or “plarn.” I folded up each bag vertically and cut them into about 16 loops, which I twisted together to create the “plarn” material. I then found another Youtube video that taught me the basics of crocheting, which helped me turn my “plarn” into a tote bag.
Upcycle
Tablecloth Prom Dress (2022)
Flare Pants (2021)
I created these flare pants using a pair of old jeans, my grandpa’s vintage ties, and my grandma’s robe. I hemmed the pants to a shorter length, removed the seams from the sides of the pants, cut the robe fabric to my desired triangular shape, and sewed the ties and robe fabric into the sides of the jeans.
3D Cardboard Mannequin (2021)
I used an iPhone application called ScandyPro to create a series of 3D scans of my body. I experimented with a 3D modeling application called Meshmixer to combine the different 3D scans and smooth them together. From there, I put my 3D file into a different application called Slicer for Fusion 360, which converted my model into vector files of interlocked slices. I then used a Glowforge laser cutter to cut out the different pieces and assemble them into a 3D model of myself.
Pop Tab Bucket Hat (2020)
With the help of friends and family, I collected over 300 pop tabs. I then used pliers and wire cutters to bend and cut open the back end of the pop tabs. From there, I wove the pop tabs together by interlocking them and attaching them in the shape of the hat.
Denim Patchwork Dress (2020)
I designed a sewing pattern where I learned about seam allowance and shape. I then took old jeans that were too small for me and cut them to the different pieces in my pattern. From there, I learned about the basics of sewing through a series of Youtube videos and sewed together my separate pieces.