Young designer transforms unwanted goods into fashion pieces
Upcoming fashion designer Maddie Bevacqua is looking to highlight the importance of sustainability by turning unwanted materials into fashionable clothing.
“The reason I got into fashion was because I didn’t want to support fast fashion brands anymore,” says the 23-year-old designer.
The fashion industry is one of the largest polluting industries in the world, even ahead of the transportation industry. One of the main culprits is fast fashion — mass production of cheap and replaceable clothes that come with an environmental cost.
“The second biggest polluters in landfills is the textiles and garments. So it’s a huge problem right now,” says Elaine Chatwood, coordinator of the St. Clair College Fashion Design program.
Bevacqua’s pieces sourced from recycled materials won her the top designer award at St. Clair College’s 2021 Atelier Fashion Show which came with a $1,000 scholarship.
The recent St. Clair graduate created her one-of-kind garments using tablecloths, curtains and tapestries she found at local thrift stores.
“I don’t like taking like a perfect tapestry. I like to take something that’s damaged and might not be used for its original purpose and give it new purpose,” says Bevacqua.
Designer Maddie Bevacqua at St.Clair College in Windsor, Ont. on Monday, July 26, 2021. (Sijia Liu/CTV Windsor)
The process of creating the pieces takes time. Bevacqua often searches through local thrift stores and online markets for months before finding suitable materials. She then begins designing her garments and making them by hand.
“The hardest part is cutting my fabrics. I’m really scared that I’m going to screw up. Once I screw up on a certain material, I can’t get a new one. So I’ll have to make a solution,” she says.
Chatwood says the sustainable fashion is growing in popularity with younger generation as they become more conscious shoppers. To break the fast fashion habit, Chatwood suggests consumers think twice before purchasing an item.
“You should ask a few questions. First of all, do you need this? Secondly, what is the fabric? f possible always buy organic cotton and recycled polyester,” she suggests.
When shopping, Chatwood says the seams can reveal a lot about the quality of clothing.
“Look inside the garments at the seams. If the garment isn’t sown very well and the seams allowances are really small, after one or two washes it’s going to frail.”
Finally, she suggests consumers learn basic sewing skills.
“Learn how to sow a button on, fix a zipper and actually owning a sewing machine again,” Chatwood says. “It’s a great trend learning how to fix your own items.”
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Stormy Daniels describes meeting Trump during occasionally graphic testimony in hush money trial
Stormy Daniels took the witness stand Tuesday at Donald Trump's hush money trial, describing for jurors a sexual encounter the porn actor says she had with him in 2006 that resulted in her being paid off to keep silent during the presidential race 10 years later.
Former homicide detective explains how police will investigate shooting outside Drake's Bridle Path mansion
Footage from dozens of security cameras in the area of Drake’s Bridle Path mansion could be the key to identifying the suspect responsible for shooting and seriously injuring a security guard outside the rapper’s sprawling home early Tuesday morning, a former Toronto homicide detective says.
Jeremy Skibicki has 'uphill battle' to prove he's not criminally responsible in Winnipeg killings: legal analysts
Accused killer Jeremy Skibicki could have a challenging time convincing a judge that he is not criminally responsible for the deaths of four Indigenous women, a legal analyst says.
Bye-bye bag fee: Calgary repeals single-use bylaw
A Calgary bylaw requiring businesses to charge a minimum bag fee and only provide single-use items when requested has officially been tossed.
Air France flight from Paris to Seattle lands in Iqaluit after heat smell in cabin
A plane travelling from Paris to Seattle was forced to make an emergency landing in Iqaluit after there was a heat smell in the cabin during the flight.
CFL suspends Argos QB Chad Kelly at least nine games following investigation
The CFL suspended Toronto Argonauts quarterback Chad Kelly for at least nine regular-season games Tuesday following its investigation into a lawsuit filed by a former strength-and-conditioning coach against both the player and club.
Boy Scouts of America changing name for first time in 114 years, aiming for inclusivity
The Boy Scouts of America is changing its name for the first time in its 114-year history and will become Scouting America. It's a significant shift as the organization emerges from bankruptcy following a flood of sexual abuse claims and seeks to focus on inclusion.
Alcohol believed to be a factor in boating incident after 2 men die: N.S. RCMP
Two Nova Scotia men are dead after a boat they were travelling in sank in the Annapolis River in Granville Centre, N.S., on Monday.
Security guard shot, critically injured outside of Drake's Toronto mansion
A security guard working at Drake’s Bridle Path mansion in Toronto was seriously injured in a shooting outside the residence early Tuesday morning, police said.