One Stitch At A Time

I met Alicia Garcia at a retreat hosted by Voces Unidas during the summer of 2024. While this is where our paths began to slowly connect, it also led to me being able reconnect my interest in clothing allowing me to share my thoughts and ideas on the fashion industry through conversation. These conversation were merely just the seed as I began partaking in the events/workshops held by Remade In The RGV to learn more. Beginning with the virtual screening of a documentary called The True Cost tackling the question "who pays the price for our clothes?" which you can also watch down below.

After that was hand dyeing textiles with flowers led by Eva Ryan and Priscilla Carbajal which are also two of the sustainable fashion show designers. This workshop taught me on the creative use of using nuts, flowers, seeds, powders to make my own design! To make my own piece! A photo of mine down below, but everyone's came out so uniquely different. I've never done something like this before especially the way Priscilla literally cooked our foiled up fabric rolls to finalize our work. Photo of mine down below. (left is by Eva Ryan and mine are the other two images)

Participating and learning with Alicia has been fun. Even with my experiences, these are the experiences leading to the creation of Remade In The RGV. Before we dig in, here's a few shout outs by Alicia "Paloma M. for running social media with me and giving helpful feedback. Rubén, Michelle, and Lupe with Voces Unidas for being fierce advocates not only for me but for so many creatives of the RGV. Maria Andrea and the team with Creative ReUsArte for sharing a passion for creative reuse and offering their support, always. I want to shout out to the folks who answered the call back in September– the response was overwhelming, and I hope we can work together in the future. For the folks that stepped up to help me with the event production: Taylor Z, Eri M, Zaiah T., Pears, Eric V., Julian, and more, I see you and I appreciate you!!! I also want to shout out to those who helped us run meetings and workshops: Andres and the team at ENTRE, Priscilla Carbajal, and Souther with Cactus Valley Art. A major shout out to the team at Quinta Mazatlan and Trucha for championing education, human and environmental rights, connecting with what’s happening around us, and caring for the region's well-being, as well as my creative vision. It warms my heart to see and feel the local network in action, and I would encourage more to follow, volunteer with, and donate to these organizations."

Now I ask, what is Remade In The RGV? What thoughts, experiences, or teachings led to your starting THIS project? "ReMade in the RGV is a sustainable fashion and art project that invites 6 people from the region to exercise creative reuse as personal expression. I asked that they produce a few outfits with the only requirement being that most of their materials must be reclaimed, or in other english words, secondhand, thrifted, post-consumer, swapped, or found. I was able to share a lot of materials from my personal stash, and source bedsheets, curtains, clothing, and remnant (leftover fabric from a large roll) fabric from the thrift to share." I did meet a few of the artists through the events and workshops held. Well I knew of them beforehand, but seeing the names and knowing their ways of creative expression. The "line up" is diverse in their arts that I can only imagine what's being RE-MADE! Alicia continues by saying "the start of my journey with upcycling, or mending to give something a new life, came from me cropping the shirts I would get at thrift stores to fit my torso more comfortably. This merged with my artistic practice during COVID, as I was experimenting with my own clothing and taking on commissions to paint jackets for extra income. Some teachings that influence my work are the fields of sustainable fashion and fiber arts; my experiences in college, specifically in a fashion show spring 2022, is where I experienced the joy in sharing my work on a runway and within the community. The global rise in upcycling and sustainable fashion– in response to the wide-reaching environmental and social injustices that stem from the fashion industry– is also incredibly inspiring to me. Seeing how people across the world respond with the creative recycling projects, large-scale or individual, which I find on social media reminds me of how universal this practice is. This makes me want to share and encourage this from more people, since the potential sits with us and our closets. I also wanted the opportunity to create more clothing art come to life." I was remembering on the exact moment I stopped with fast-fashion. I was at a bar probably in 2018? I would shop from H&M with my friends and I decided to wear one of the shirts I purchased for the outing. At the bar I sat down without realizing there was someone in the seat next to me and his friend says "hey, do y'all have the same shirt? No way!" That's when I realized that I needed my own ways of expression through clothing. Experimenting and "research" into what I personally enjoy. Eventually meeting curators such as Regina who has an eye for sustainable fashion. Since then my closet has changed and minimized. What a fast-fashion experience does to a person.

As an artist and an activist or shall we say Artisvist ~ What would you say is the mission/take home goal for those witnessing this project in fruition, even if it's at the event on April 3rd as Alicia states "the mission, at its core, is to encourage people to think about their own closets differently, to consider where their clothing came from, and where it will end up once it’s no longer worn. I’d like for those at the event to celebrate their own resourcefulness and consider how that might take shape through their clothing. Mending and tailoring have been practiced since people have been wearing clothes. One of my main takeaways is the influence that seamstresses/costureras have in our families and within our community, particularly before the rise of the department store and online shopping. I’d also encourage people to consider the sources of our basic necessities, whether that's clothing or the food with which our agricultural community has deep ties. With this comes shopping intentionally and considering where our money goes when it’s spent. Overall, I want to take this opportunity to celebrate the resourcefulness that is the root of the success of our community. In a time where we are increasingly forced into self-reliance, being able to witness creative expressions through the rascuachismo tennant hacer rendir las cosas, and to network with people and organizations that are similarly aligned, is what I hoped to achieve with this event." One of the things that caught my attention from the documentary was the sewing! The business of sewing, but with fast fashion that was diminishing, but it made me think of sewing workshops in the valley, sewing businesses or signs I'd see in Donna that say "sewing lessons! Call ---" Even with the event itself - it is mandatory I'd say to dress "THRIFT STORE COUTURE." An evening of expression and clothing found rather than found through a rack of multiples. Side note, but this also just reminded me of the dresses my mom has sewn.

The artists featured - top and bottom -

Now this coming event will be featuring local artists, could you share their names and share a little bit about them - even a little of what we could expect of their showcase (runway pieces) at the event as Alicia shares by saying "Sure thing, the 6 people I’m working with are Regina Montemayor, Sam Ruiz, Eva Ryan, Natalia Saldaña, Sunny Saxton, and vivi torres. We come from a range of creative backgrounds, from fashion design to fine art,  and experiences with upcycling. Expect to see a reflection of our individual interests and style, and experimentation with natural dyes, adjustable clothing, printmaking, and formal fashion design." While I do know a few of these artists, I also heard small talk on the projects they are creating along with some video sneak peaks on socials. It's so exciting! I've only been to ONE fashion runway show back at UTRGV and that's about it. TOMORROW TOMORROW!

What are some ways folks could take the proper step in reusing or giving their own clothes a second "life"? Any advice? "I’d say the main way to get into it is by just giving it a try and keeping at it. It’s something you improve over time (I always talk about the hot glue hems I used to rock). Once you cross that line and take scissors to your shirt, you will start a new chapter in building a meaningful relationship with clothing, style, and self-expression (and more). I would also recommend searching up mending and upcycling on social media, from people and places all over. Chances are you’ve seen and loved somebody’s upcycle project or creative reuse in action, and there will almost always be a video tutorial on whatever technique you’d like to try." Taking scissors to my Jun Takahashi pieces? My vintage Christian Dior? Vetements? If I must, I shall. I buried it deep in my mind, but I remember the shirts I actually painted on years ago....I forgot about that actually and some shirts I've cut up so they'd be more comfy too. Wow.

What are you thinking about after the event? Such as sewing workshops, community workshops or things you plan on showing/teaching with the help of creatives as Alicia mentions "after the event, I want to take time and reflect with the creatives on the experience. We are all taking on this project while managing jobs and the chaos of life, so we’re still on this rollercoaster together (does that put y'all in the splash zone? Dress accordingly) Also, a selection of the garments shown will be displayed at Quinta Mazatlan’s Discovery Center throughout April, so it’ll be another chance to see the work close up after the event. We may activate this work again soon, so keep an eye out by following us @remadergv" Oh so the pieces will be staying there until the end of April? That's pretty cool! I'd have to stop by again and bring some friends with me before they get taken back.

April 3rd is around the corner, do you have any final words? 

"I’m incredibly excited to share this project and passion with y’all. It’s a personal practice I hold near to my heart, but I also feel it is important to show and encourage all to do. My goal is to inspire action through artistic representations of creative reuse.

I am also moved by the support I’ve received from the community throughout the process. Thank you to the individuals who give their time and energy to produce this event with me and the fiscal sponsors and venue whose contributions led to realizing the vision I have of a society connected to and through their clothing."