Green Girl

I’m becoming increasingly obsessed with my yoga practice, and in searching  Etsy for the coolest, greenest yoga bag possible, I stumbled on Tread Threads . She makes some lovely, funky designs using all reclaimed and recycled materials, so we asked her a little about her work. Here’s what we found out!

1. What inspired you to begin working with reclaimed and recycled materials?

I have always been a bit of a thrift store junkie.  As early as high school, I was scouting the racks with an eye for unusual textures, patterns and details.  I think the idea of re-using old materials arose out of those thrift store visits that often resulted in not quite perfect impulse buys that needed to altered a bit to let their sweet vintage print or fun details shine.  I’ve always instinctively turned to the vintage thrift racks or local charity sales to find interesting, cheaper material for my own projects and gifts.  So when I decided to take my hobbie to the next level and start selling some of my work, it seemed like the natural way to go.  I do of course have a mind for the state of our culture and our environment, and as a craftsperson, finding a way to promote sustainable consumption even in art seems like the only way to go.  There are tons of people working with fantastically creative solutions and coming up with really exciting sustainable products, including organic and recycled fabrics.  For me, I see so much good stuff already out there (and potentially going to waste)…so I use it!

2. You make lots of different kinds of things, from clothing to yoga equipment. Which is your favorite?

I’ve really been into the yoga bags recently.  They have a really nice graceful simplicity, and the whole process of constructing them and choosing matching lining fabric and pocket patterns has been a nice sort of zen experience for me in itself.

3. Tell us a little bit about your process. How do you find your material? How do you start a piece? How do you know when you’re done?

At least half of material comes from friends, relatives, and acquaintances who know what I do and have stuff to get rid of.  When it’s time to clean out the craft closet or the linen closet or the whole house, I sort through their stuff for useful treasures before passing the rest on to the appropriate charitable organization.  The rest of my materials are mostly thrift store and charity expo finds.  My favorite things to resurrect are items that are made out of great materials, but have suffered a rip or stain in one or a few places that leave them 100% ruined for their original purpose, but leave 95% of the delightful fabric just waiting to find new life.
As far as creative process goes, it really varies.  Sometimes I have an idea for a skirt or an appliqué that forms first as an image in my head – perhaps inspired by music or art, a character in a book or a walk through my neighborhood – and then I go routing through my supplies to find the appropriate materials to bring it to life. Other times, a particular print or texture inspires me, and then I center the piece on that.  With patchwork, especially, the pieces often take on a life of their own and I  do not know precisely how they will end up when I begin.  I very rarely work from patterns, and if I do, they are inevitably only borrowed from and altered.  The process of both shaping materials and the surprises that come with letting materials shape themselves are really what draws me to sewing.

4. Feel free to tell us anything else you’d like us to know about your products, your commitment to the environment, or anything else!

I’d just remind folks to keep taking those small steps that help lead to a more cooperative, sustainable future.  Everyone has a different lifestyle, and I think for everyone there are different paths to finding the ultimate solution.  Big steps are great, but even little things like keeping a reusable bag in your purse and saying ‘no thank you’ to plastic or growing a small garden and sharing fresh vegetables with your neighbors creates a culture of change.  So find what works for you, then do it.
Sometimes stepping back and thinking about the mess we’re in can be really overwhelming, but I’d encourage people to try to find a positive, creative attitude…and pass it on.

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