Gathering Fabrics to be Recycled

Much of the fabric that we use comes from Goodwill stores and other second hand stores like Thrifty Threads.  We have found that these companies not only work to support great causes themselves, but the fabric are normally sorted, making it easier to find something like 150 striped shirts or 100 gray t-shirts.  Also we can hand pick the textiles made from the highest quality silk for our one of a kind pieces.  We also work with local venders in developing countries were our fair trade producers are located to cut down on the amount of travel our textiles take before they are transformed into a different garment. 

Washing the Fabrics

Next the fabrics are washed thoroughly.  Everything that we use is washed in a machine with warm water to ensure that it is ready for re-use.  

De-constructing the Garments

Most of the garments are not completely de-constructed before we start renovating them because of the extra labor invovled in this process; however, buttons, cuffs, zippers and things that we can re-use in our own garments are taken out.  Then we take out the least amount of seams neccesary to make the garment usable as a piece of fabric again.

Cutting out a new garment

Each Liz Alig season is composed of a few styles that are made out of a specific post consumer clothing item.  For example the Tie Skirt is made out of striped button down shirts or the Jeanne Dress is made out of t-shirts.  So when the specific textiles for each piece are ready, we cut them out using patterns for our set silhouette. 

A New Garment is Made

Finally the new garment is sewn by seamstresses from one of our fair trade partner groups.  We are currently working with producers in Honduras, Haiti, and Ghana. Special orders are sewn in our studio located near Indianapolis.