Outside the weather is unrelentingly dreary, with rain and wind stripping the trees of the last of their colourful leaves and we are all hunkering over against the cold and feeling apprehensive about our workloads and the viruses flying around.
But inside a studio/shed/your special room in your house you can turn on the lights, hopefully put on some heating or extra clothing and lose yourself in the joys of creativity.
If you are looking for inspiration, either for unique crafty things to buy or for things to do yourself today’s blog is a focus on Rebecca Rickard, the founder of Rebecunica, a small business which creates new things from pre-loved ones; creating striking one-off designs that are kind to the planet. I was very taken by seeing Rebecca wearing an amazing, colourful skirt made completely of old ties. It was a stunning creation capturing many admiring glances across a crowded room. Recently I visited Rebecca at her home in Kings Somborne to see where and how she works and get a close up look at some of her creations.
Rebecca started her environmentally friendly passion during lockdown, when she knew she would have to shield due to health considerations. Her first project was a ‘memory dress’. unable even to get to charity shops for fabric she ransacked a wardrobe of outgrown shirts from her two boys, who had given her stalwart support in those difficult times. Triangles of each shirt were cleverly incorporated into the bottom of an old dress, creating a swingy skirt that linked clothes from herself and the boys in a tangible fashion item that held special memories.
Necessity being the mother of invention and all that, Rebecca began to find more and more ways to rejuvenate her wardrobe by re-purposing the family’s clothing and soon villagers began to send their old scraps of fabric to her, or old jeans, jackets and skirts, either giving her free rein to refurbish them or making specific requests for bespoke items for themselves. From a simple start her enthusiasm and skills sky rocketed.
it’s all in the details
One of the things I liked about Rebecca’s work was the the variety and the attention to detail. This little cropped jacket had been a longer model and was languishing, unloved, at the back of a wardrobe, failing to get to Narnia. Rebecca shortened it, added unusual details, including an eye-catching flower emblem and pretty trims and finished it off with a recycled price ticket made from a cereal packet that told the story of the item.
keeping it in the family
Rebecca’s son, Tom, a graphic designer, created a brand logo combining her name with the eco theme and unique nature of her work so each piece is finished with a professional looking label.
Her new hobby sometimes demanded new skills and tools, as all good hobbies tend to, and Rebecca now makes her own matching buttons fro some of her garments.
sashiko
In our village, Rebecca has become the go-to person for repairs especially for favourite clothes that have suffered injury. Blemishes are turned into beauty spots as Rebecca applies the Japanese art of Sashiko, embroidering over holes and turning them into features
transformation
Similarly, buttons can be changed, items lengthened or shortened, ties, fringes, inserts and belts added. I particularly like the way iconic t shirts have been mashed up to create a ‘t-shirt dress’ in the image below
there’s nothing better than wearing something you up cycled and a stranger saying, “I Really like your…”
Rebecca is well known for her stylish outfits and is often stopped by people struck by them and wanting to know more.
In my next blog I will be showing some examples of clever ways Rebecca has found to re-purpose old sails and giving details of where you can go to get your hands on some of her beautiful and useful creations.