LIZ ALIG
Above | JUNE DRESS recycled excess factory chambray from Cambodia
1/2
lizalig.com
SPRING 2018 Last year I went to Mexico with my old boss, now friend, who has been going back and forth to Mexico for decades designing lace debutante dresses. Together we went to the charming—slightly hippy town of Tepoztlan, Mexico, to stay with her friend who just so happened to be the woman who designed the poodle skirt...yes she randomly lives in Mexico, and yes she is pretty old! I am not normally a person who gets star struck, but to spend a few days with this women—watching I Love Lucy, hearing her stories about the guys she had dated on the show, and helping her clean out her monstrous closet— was inspiring. Most inspiring though was to see these two women’s relationship. The fashion industry is a competitive place, so it was refreshing to see two fiercely independent people who had worked together for so long. To sit and listen to each of their uniquely rich lives—how they inspired each other’s work, traveled together, and kept each other going even after their factory in Mexico was destroyed—was beautiful. Most people assume that Liz Alig is really only my own work. This could not be further from the truth. I only have the unique pleasure of connecting so many different people in order to support each other’s work and to celebrate the handcraft of women all around the world. People like Lori who moved to Honduras and started an NGO giving free classes and micro loans to women so they could support their families. Or Augstina in Bolivia who sews our Pima cotton collection. She is eager to get more work so she can teach her neighbors how to sew to give them a job as well. Numerous young men and community leaders who selflessly translate for remote villages to give opportunities to their counterparts. And some of the sweetest young women who volunteer to help with menial tasks at our studio in the States. The list goes on and on—it is a pleasure to work beside the web of people who have a hand in the production of these clothes and through it support women around the world who have few opportunities.
This Spring Collection was inspired by my time in Mexico. I was inspired by their rich textiles, cotton striped ‘Manta’ fabric, and easy fits; but mostly I was inspired by the relationship of two elderly women. I was inspired to keep promoting the work of the amazing women we partner with around the world. Hope you enjoy! - Liz
Left | JULI
DRESS Handwoven Recycled Denim from Guatemala lizalig.com
1/2
handwoven textiles from recycled denim and cotton fibers We believe slow fashion is important. Our goal is to be able to track our entire supply chain, which is why we use either handwoven or recycled textiles in our collections. Two of our favorites are pictured here. The striped shirt is made from traditional Mexican ‘Manta’ cotton fabric. We have partnered with a group that collects pre-consumer denim waste. They then ground this back into fiber, re-spin and re-weave it into this striped fabric. The Kimmy Dress is made from recycled cotton fibers that have been re-woven in Bangladesh into this amazing multi-colored textile. Right | KIMMY
DRESS Handwoven Recycled Cotton from Bangladesh JESSY TOP Handwoven Recycled Denim from Guatemala
Left | DILSI
OVERALLS IN GREY TEXTURE Handwoven recycled Cotton from Bangladesh
JOSAFINA T-SHIRIT Pima Cotton from Bolivia LEATHER HOBO BAG Recycled Leather from Vietnam Next Page | MAYBE ROMPER Handwoven Recycled Denim from Guatemala
lizalig.com
5/6
lizalig.com
Left | JUNE DRESS Handwoven Recycled Denim from Guatemala Below | SLOAN CARDIGAN Alpaca from Bolivia MAYBE ROMPER Handwoven Recycled Denim from Guatemala
9 / 10
Recycled ikat sewn by a small group of women in AntiGua
Most traditional women in Guatemala wear the ikat skirt and shirt (huipil) unique to their region. Liz Alig has worked for several years with a couple of women in the foothills of Antiqua, Guatemala who produce pieces from these fabrics. They go to their local markets and purchase the fabrics to be recycled then re-work them into our designs. We are so proud of one of our seamstresses, Gloria, who was able to pay for an expensive heart surgery for her son because of her work with Liz Alig.
Right | FRIDA
TOP Recycled Traditional Guatemalan Ikat JUNE DRESS Upcycled Factory Cut-Offs from Cambodia
11 / 12
lizalig.com
Left | MARIA T Recycled T-Shirts from Honduras MAGGIE SHORTS Recycled Traditional Guatemalan Ikat Above | GLORIA DRESS Recycled Traditional Guatemalan Ikat Next Page | GABRIELA DRESS Recycled T-Shirts from Honduras
lizalig.com
13 / 14
Above | FLOR SHIRT handwoven cotton from Guatemala Right | TIRSA TANK recycled cotton from El Salvador SUSAN MINI SKIRT handwoven cotton from Cambodia
9/10
lizalig.com
LACY DRESS Pima Cotton from Bolivia
17/ 18
lizalig.com
Super Soft baby alpaca sweaters knit by hand in Bolivia Alpaca has been raised for years in the Andes Mountains of Peru and Bolivia. We partner with a small cooperative in Bolivia that knits these sweater from the softest baby alpaca yarn purchased from sustainable farmers in the area. We love supporting their work and love their sweaters!
Right | VERONICA HOODY Alpaca from Bolivia MAGGIE SHORTS Recycled Traditional Guatemalan Ikat Next Page | SAMANTHA BLOUSE Alpaca from Bolivia DOLORES ROMPER Upcycled Factory Cut-Offs from Cambodia
19 / 20
lizalig.com
Left:
Right | TIRSA TANK recycled cotton from El Salvador SUSAN MINI SKIRT handwoven cotton from Cambodia Above | ZULMA DRESS recycled cotton from El Salvador
lizalig.com
11/12
Recycled Overstock fabrics from factories in Cambodia The fashion industry is one of the most polluting industries—there is an exorbitant amount of waste associated with factory production. With the large number of factories in Cambodia, there are also warehouses full of rolls and rolls and bags and bags of unwanted fabrics from factories. We source fabrics from these piles of fabric then partner with a small workshop to produce the clothing. The workshop not only pays a fair wage and benefits, but gives paid holidays—things unheard of for most factories in Cambodia!
NELA DRESS Upcycled Factory Cut-Offs from Cambodia
Photography | NATE CANADA natecanada.com @ncanada Model Next Page | SAMANTHA HUNT samantha-diane.com
@samantha_diane Model Front Cover | MELISSA MILLIS nouhopehaiti.org Model Left | ESA EDWARDS @esa_maralee lizalig.com
23 / 24
25 / 26
lizalig.com
Below | DOLORES
ROMPER Upcycled Factory Cut-Offs from
HUIPIL CLUTCH Right | JUNE DRESS
Cambodia Recycled Traditional Guatemalan Ikat Upcycled Factory Cut-Offs from Cambodia
DEEDEE@LIZALIG.COM lizalig.com To Order | EMAIL
5504 N 300 W Greenfield, IN 46140
LIZ ALIG