PART THREE: THRIFT & TAILOR MAP

Taking into account all of the previous research, the “Thrift & Tailor” map emerged (Appendix E) This map shows all of Housing Works’ thrift store locations in New York City and their surrounding tailors and cleaners This way, shoppers can look for the thrift store they are shopping at, and find which service is most convenient to them. This system is immediately available to anyone who needs it and connects shoppers with existing service vendors. This eliminates the need for thrift shops to supply their own tailors and services and encourages work from local service providers who already have their own protocols and methods in place

PART FOUR: THE PROVENANCE PROJECT

From all of the research conducted, there are key themes that stand out from the rest: quality, storytelling, and exclusivity From these ideas emerges the Provenance Project, a system in which designer clothing samples and mendable garments are redesigned or restored and sold through their story Customers can not see the actual garment being sold but are presented with the garment’s origin story or provenance This system reduces the amount of clothing being wasted as it uses garments that are stained or torn that not even second-hand stores can accept Through dyeing, customization, and mending, garments appear brand new, while still originating from a designer brand. This method of buying also increases the garment’s value as lots of people who shop secondhand are looking for a great story to tell or own It is a slow fashion method, as people are not keen on buying tons of unseen garments, which gives a high personal and emotional value to the garment without an extremely high price point. This system was tested using four garments sourced from Fabscrap This company sorts and sells fabric scraps and mendable garments from fashion brands These garments are often samples or prototypes that were discarded. Brands that collaborate with Fabscrap are already focused on sustainability as they give them their materials rather than sending them to landfill

Garment Mending and Upcycling

Quilted Jacket - Mending

The first mended garment is a Tommy Hilfiger quilted sample jacket (figure 6). It was missing one of its arms and was cut off at the bottom Because of this, it was transformed into a cropped al materials d additional nd color and

The second garment is a men’s tailored blazer (figure 7) that did not have arms and had a frayed collar and armholes The buttons were moved to change its silhouette into a women’s mini dress (figure 7). This took only 10 minutes, which shows that it is something that could be done on the spot at a store Bias tape was used to hide the frayed seams in the collar and armholes The total additional cost was $2 90 The changes made to this garment significantly changed its size and silhouette. These changes can easily account for gender transitions, and style transformations without requiring completely new clothes

Pleated Shorts - Re-draping

The pair of pleated These pieces were process took the lon possible changes to is not easy to achiev

The final garment used is a sample knit dress from Express (figure 9). This garment was completely torn on the sides but in perfect condition everywhere else The sides were sewn back together and then the dress was separated into two pieces to form a top and skirt set (figure 9). Although this didn’t use any additional materials, it did require an overlock and cover-stitch machine to ensure the correct finishings for knit materials These machines are not readily available and should be accounted for. The process took 1:30 hs which shows it is a fast and easy way to change the style of a garment This could be a great option for long evening dresses which are generally worn for a single occasion and never again.

Partial Conclusions

Quilted Jacket Tailored Blazer Pleated Shorts Knit Dress

Changes Made Removed the arms, cropped the length, bound armholes

Moved buttons, bound collar, and armholes

Completely unsewn and re-draped

Mended side seam, cut, and separated into two pieces

5 hours total 1:30 Change in gender styles and silhouettes hs total Too-small garments and change in style

Turning occasion garments into casual ones 19