Conversation with Jackie Wolf-Schmidt

Please enjoy my conversation with Jackie Wolf-Schmidt. Jackie Schmidt is a found materials fashion designer and shoe creator from Los Angeles, California. She received her BFA from the Art Institute of Chicago and is currently studying at the Fashion Institute of Technology, focusing on creating sustainable pieces with materials such as aluminum cans, bottle caps, plastic bags, belts, and many more found objects. She then transforms the materials into wearable art pieces, filled with lots of color and fun textures that will make heads turn when entering into a room.

https://www.jwolfschmidt.com/
https://www.instagram.com/jwolfschmidt/#

Art Institute of Chicago https://www.artic.edu/

Fashion Institute of Technology https://www.fitnyc.edu/

Deadstock Fabric https://goodonyou.eco/brands-using-leftover-fabric/

https://www.plasticshed.org/

Paco Rabanne https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paco_Rabanne

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shrinky_Dinks 

This podcast was created by Natalya Khorover. It was produced and recorded by Natalya, as well as researched and edited by her. SALVAGE is a product of ECOLOOP.ART.

If you enjoy this show, please rate and review us wherever you’re listening—and be sure to come back for another conversation with a repurposed media artist.

Music theme by RC Guida

Visit Natalya’s website at www.artbynatalya.com

Visit Natalya’s community at www.repurposercollective.com

Visit Natalya’s workshops at https://www.ecoloop.art/

Transcript

Welcome to Salvage, a podcast for conversations with artists about the repurposed materials they use in their art practice.

Please enjoy my conversation with Jackie Wolf-Schmidt. Jackie is a found material fashion designer and shoe creator from Los Angeles, California. She received her BFA from the Art Institute of Chicago and is currently studying at the Fashion Institute of Technology. Actually, she just graduated,

She's focusing on creating sustainable pieces with materials such as aluminum cans, bottle caps, plastic bags, belts and many more found objects.

she transforms the materials into wearable art pieces filled with lots of color and fun textures that will make heads turn when entering the room. Which is exactly why I asked her to be on this podcast.

thank you, Jackie. I'm so glad that you agreed to talk to me and so fast. And I literally just found out about you, like the day that I asked you to be on the podcast is the day I found out about you. Oh, that's so cool.

Yeah, I’m glad you found me. Me too. Me too. You know, I'm. I have a fashion background, too. I went to Pratt for my degree in fashion design. That was a long time ago in a galaxy far away. And I haven't been in the fashion industry in a really, really long time. And nor did I ever make creations like you did.

I just, you know,

my trajectory was, oh, great. Art school. Art school. Oops. Mass market. You know, there's a path for everybody, right? And I think art is very, you know, there's many directions people go in. So I think everything anyone does is very admirable, you know, especially when doing studying fashion or art in general. So.

And everything works out for a reason. You know, I, I'm quite happy to be the artist that I am now, even though my fashion career didn't quite turn out how I had envisioned it way back when. Yeah. I mean, I, just a small story. I didn't even actually know I was really, into art until I was around, like 20 years old, so I really.

Yeah, it's been. I've, Yeah. My, kind of a fun story. My mom actually convinced me I was in business school studying, er. And I was just having a lot of, like, it wasn't my favorite, and she really convinced me to drop out and go to art school, and she's like, I think you're really talented. You should just, like, drop out.

I'm like, mom, that's crazy. Like, why would you tell me to like, drop out? Like that's she's like, no, no. And she's like, no, no, no. I actually think like, this would be a good path for you to. And I'm like, that is crazy. I'm in my first like year of school and like, I, you know, I'm like, I, I think, you know, I can do business, not something I can achieve in my life.

But she's like, no, no, I think you should follow your dreams. And that's amazing. And you didn't even know you had those dreams. No, because I actually I was really into sports and, like, band and stuff growing up, so I didn't even, and then the whole funny part of the story was like, it was like, I oh, I'll never do fashion.

I'm going to do graphic design and maybe textile art, because that's what I'm interested in. And then it was Covid, you know, and I needed some courses during summer. And I was like, you know, there's a fashion illustration class. I'll just take it and, you know, maybe I'll like it. And then I and then it's been like that ever since.

And it's, it's one of those things where it's just been like, I'm not going to go to our school. I go to art school, I'm not going to do fashion. I go to fashion week. It's like, but I'm very grateful for all of the, the, the turns life has led me to. Absolutely. Yeah. The one thing I have learned is never say never.

Because as soon as you say never to something, a year later, you'll be like, oh, here I am. It's truly true. Life works really, truly in that, in that way. And I've been very open about just kind of like, you know, how it goes, how it goes. And I think that that's helped me a lot. And my art to really, you know, I think it's very organic.

So I think that's kind of how I actually think about my art as well. So it's kind of cool. Oh that's great. So but you did go I saw that you did go to an art school for, yes. Yeah. So wait, was that before business school or after business school? Oh, it was after I, another crazy story.

So I, I dropped out of college because I think these are all connected and they're important. Plus, my whole career is very like. Wow. You know, I'm even influenced by what has happened in the last few years of my life. And I, my, yes, my my mom was like, you know, you should just do, like, a portfolio review, get some advice, you know, cause I've been building some work.

Right? And I didn't really know what I liked because I was very experimental. I was good at really drawing and doing some fiber art, like small crocheting and embroidery project. Very small. Nothing super. You know, like I was buying the the Walmart packs of embroidery and doing them in the car. Right. Like it's nothing, you know, just like small things.

And so, my mom was like, you know, let's go to portfolio review. Let's, let's have them see your work and just see how you do. And so we drove very far away to go to this portfolio review. And, my mom was like, oh, you should do like these schools. And, so I got accepted on the spot at the portfolio review, which, wow.

I mean, it was like it was so shocking. So I went to the Art Institute Chicago, and they they accepted my portfolio. And all I had to do was submit my grades. And I was a pretty decent student. So it was it was kind of just like it went so naturally, I was not even going to apply till next for next September.

But I was in school in December that following and that following year in January, I was in art school. Wow. Amazing. So what was your concentration at the Art Institute of Chicago? It was in graphic design. And then I, Covid happened and then I went to fashion. And so I was really inspired by sustainable textiles. And, so I really did a lot of incorporation of textile graphic design, but mainly I was in the fashion course at the Art Institute of Chicago, which was, such a great program, and I loved it.

So. Oh, wow. Yeah. So you got your BFA in fashion design then? Yeah. And like Art Institute. It's just you all get an art degree. But yes, I focused I, my focus was on fashion. So I would say I was, I had a my I guess you say your focus on fashion, but I, I got an ma in art.

That, Yeah. Bachelor's in art. Okay. Yeah. Gotcha. Yeah, yeah. Very cool. And how what made you focus on repurposed? Like. Like how did that happen? I it was my second. Oh, no, it was my first art class, which this is fresh out actually. Maybe you saw pictures online. Some people this garments is one that's kind of in the wind because I did it.

My family lives in Portland, Oregon, and so, it was I had to take it apart because I couldn't carry it with me when I moved to other places, so I don't. But you might have seen pictures. Anyway, I was in a textile class, and they were teaching us repurposing of materials to do, like basket weaving. And I was just in a general textile class.

And so I was really inspired by, weaving and coiling, I think is the word for it. And I created a whole coiled dress with plastic bags. So I think I had like 200 plastic bags. And I hand called them with knits. And then I made them into this gigantic sculptural piece. Oh my gosh, no, I guess I didn't go far down it, you know, it's I'll find a picture.

It's it's honestly like I remember you're are old. I think they were crochet or they were macrame. Oh yeah. Those are I saw those. This is like, even this is like years before that it was. These are old. Like, I, this one. Okay, I have pictures. I even just it's very it looks like this. Oh, yes.

I did see pictures of it. I think I just didn't understand what I was looking at. Yeah. No, I it was very avant garde and abstract. I was just kind of learning. But it was all recycled plastic bags that are hand coiled with knits. And then I kind of coiled them all together to make this abstract. Oh my God, that was my first garment for school, which was kind of crazy.

So that was, that was like one of my big dives. And then my teacher, who she really helped me a lot in that time. She was like, she she believed in me, which I really appreciate because I was like, And she was like, no, you're amazing, you know, keep going. And so she helped me, you know, introduced me to photography classes, which is why my photos, you know, where they are today, because they look phenomenal.

Photos are really important to you. And like I learned, I went and I took some professional classes with some amazing photographers that I still love this day. Oh, wait, so you take your own photographs? Oh no no, I, I learned the concepts of it. So I was able to communicate with photographers better, which I met to other cryptographers.

And not I'm not that good. I'm not that good to taking pictures. It's the whole skill. Lighting level. Yeah, absolutely. It's so hard. And I'm lucky to have some amazing photographers that I've gotten to work with. But, so anyway, the teacher who I worked with, she actually was in a sustainable textile. She took a, she did a sustainable textile course.

And so she's like, you should take it because and I loved it. And that's where all the actually that was where my bottle caps and my Cannes sequined techniques came from was that class still use them for five years now. So it was a crazy, experimental class that actually shaped my whole art career. That sounds like such a fun class.

I would love to take it right now. It was so good. I she actually doesn't even work there anymore. She's an art director. Blessed that I heard, but she, It was a great class, and it really helped me shape my ideas of innovation in design because, but also I for this is a little note of the story is I actually was really bad at sewing and I was like, I'm not going to sew at all.

It's too expensive. And so I refuse. And so the first like three years, I didn't sew at all. And so it was just like everybody was like, check, you can just use the same machine. I'm like, no, I just my hand stitched the whole thing. And it was so I, you know, I was a little, rebellious I guess, with, with using fabric.

But even just like, what can I do that's not fabric related? I mean, you can see where I came up, so. Wow. Well, you certainly have me. It's fine. You don't need to sew what you're doing. Who needs a sewing machine? I don't even think I. I think I use my grandma's for, like. Like whenever, but I very rarely sewed, so I even to this day, I don't really try to sew very much either, I can, I have very like, much better skills now, but, I just I don't know, it's not my it's not my preference, I guess.

Well, you do so much crochet and knitting and, I don't even know what, what else, what other techniques you use. But I saw your in your Instagram. I saw you stitching on sequins and things like that. So you do a lot of handwork and that you're really comfortable doing it. Yeah. When it comes to the machine is what you're rebelling against I guess, like I can do it, but, I just prefer I just I love repetitive tasks and so I love hand embroidering.

I love like those are all some like huge. Like they're just something I love. Like, I love embroider embroidery. I love doing gigantic embroidery like projects and things. I've just it's always been what I've drawn to in my creative fields and also crochet, so. Oh well. Yeah. That's great. That's very cool.

you started with plastic bags because it was just intriguing.

Or did you have any idea about, oh, I'll just say how bad plastic is for the environment. Oh yeah. No it is it was all upcycled like from from neighbors and friends. So I was very against buying plastic bags. Like that was not the purpose. But, honestly, I just was very, I would say in the beginning of my art career, I was just exceedingly experimental, and I had no concept of anything in fashion or design at all.

Didn't even have never even, like, you know, was I just was so like, oblivious, I guess, is probably the right word that I was just so like, I was I'm just going to do anything. It's going to go and it's gonna be fine. And so I think like now I'm much more educated. Right? And I think, it is like a terrible material.

And I think like plastic in general is very questionable. I think what I like to do, though, is that like, you know, one of a lot of those pieces actually, like my friend worked at a food pantry and they got all those plastic bags and she donates some. And so a lot of my work is coming with just communal like donations.

Because I think that, you know, unfortunately, it is a really negative product, but it's already there and it's either going to go somewhere it's not supposed to, or it can be made into art. And that is, I think, kind of my, direction and how I kind of inspire others to be like Jackie, I've brought you 15 cans this week, you know, and they and they're so excited because then they see my pieces and they're like, oh my gosh.

Like, I contributed to like a sustainable textile work and it's always brought people so much joy because they'll even look at my pieces and feel like I drink that, or like I gave you that. And so like, I think like that's kind of where my transformation of my materials has always been inspired by, because we don't need to have make more or take for more new things.

There are so many things already available that are like, like totally like like on the ground. Right. And and just in our house. Right. And that was where I was. I was in Covid, I was stuck in my house. I had very little access to things just in general because, you know, everything was closed or whatever. And so for me, I was just like, what can I use?

That's like right here that I can transform. And so that's where a lot of my sustainable textiles and practices had come from, which I, I'm still like very in love with to this day. So I think that's what I mean. I'm so glad to hear that. No, I, you know, my, my artwork is all made mostly from soft plastic bags and plastic packaging.

And that's exactly what I say is why buy fabric when you have all this plastic and I can stitch it just like fabric. And it's a transformation of a free art material. Absolutely. And a beautiful one too. And it's, it's and I, I have, I've had a lot of pushback. Not in a negative way, but more like people be like, you know, you could just go to the store, right?

And just like, buy fabric. And I'm like, yeah, but like, and I think there's a kind of a, maybe like a lack of creativity in some people and not in a bad way. It's just they have creativity in different ways. Maybe it's a better way, but I've always just been drawn to that idea of, like, challenging myself to what can I create with, like, this much material, right?

And like, how can I transform it versus being like, oh, I can just use thousands of yards of whatever fabric or something, you know, and, and I think that that's its own beauty in itself. Right. But I think the whole sustainable textile world is actually like, you know, it's incredible. And there's a lot of great work going on right now, especially from online people.

So I'm glad to hear that. You're saying there's a lot of great work going on. So you're now in your MFA program at Fit, right? I just graduated semester. Oh, you just graduated. It's all done. Yeah. I'm free. Congratulations. Thank you, thank you. The show was the final thing, so that's probably what you saw. Was that.

And those pieces were my final thesis collection. They're not fully online yet because I just, have had a lot of other things going on, so I haven't really had time to do them, but I'm slowly releasing them as I have time for it. Well, I'm glad you're releasing them because they're amazing and they're totally worth seeing, so.

But these pieces, they're all they're very bespoke. They're one of a kind. How do you see your career unfolding from that from now? Like, what do you see happening that's that's a good question. It's a good question. I, well, I think it's complicated, right. But I, I think that where my art was, is that it was really pushing a lot of experimental boundaries.

And I've always been like that, and I've, I've loved that part of myself. And I can make commercial art, too. But I've just always, I found a freedom in that art that I've created and shown people online, and the work that you've probably seen through my Instagram and TikTok and stuff like, that's just my like, that's just me being free and expressing my work and sustainable practices because I think it's important.

I think once I can show people, hey, if I can make these like really extreme garments, we can do like and that's kind of where art school has always trained us to be like, you can push yourself to be really abstract because that's kind of the hardest thing to do, right? To be abstract. But then to pull back is a lot more simple.

I mean, like not it's more complicated than that. But, that's kind of always the concept that my art school and like other schools have kind of always taught people is that, you know, to create avant garde and then create a commercial parallel is very doable. And so that's kind of my interpretation. But, I see my art is just my art and, I see it as, maybe in the future, I'll have a more, you know, commercial.

I might be working on some stuff right now for that. I'm just not done yet. But a lot of these projects are very tedious, and, have been all by hand. And so, you know, I'd have to kind of, you know, look into more, creative outlets to make it, because the price to the, the ratio to price and the ratio to like availability is very complex.

And I don't particularly agree that art needs to be like, not that not what I mean by that. I mean, I guess that, like, I love art being accessible to others, especially upcycling, because like, the whole like, oh, like it's a denim upcycle thing and it's like $1,000. I don't particularly find like, you know, there's there can be I truly believe maybe in myself for in the future that there could be an upcycling bridge between those that can be actually accessible to people.

So that's just kind of my $0.02, I guess, if that makes okay for it. Did I guess. Yeah. And then I guess I'm just. Yeah, that's exactly what I'm wondering. Those those garments are absolutely gorgeous. But you know, you can make one maybe two of those a year I don't know okay. Maybe more. But still it's, you know, each garment like that is a labor of love.

And it takes a long time. So an average person is probably not going to be able to afford a garment like that, even though it's upcycled. And, you know, there wasn't huge material costs, but the labor costs are huge. So I just, yeah, I wonder how that could would translate one day into

mass market, I guess. Well, on the note of a good example, I feel, I someone that I do, enjoys, kind of like, coach, they, they've kind of kind of come up with a very interesting parallel of using their upcycled, their bags and then using the deadstock materials and creating commercial pieces to sell that are made of

deadstock, which I, I find their approach very interesting because, and it's a very commercial approach, which I appreciate because I do understand your connection, because that is a really big question in the sustainable textile community is how do you make one of a kind garments like actually like sustainably recycled, right. And so I do agree that it's honestly like one of the most pressing questions that I've spoken to other sustainable artists about.

And I think that, I think there is a way, I think that it's, there's a lot of necessary access to materials and, different things like that, but I definitely think it's very, very doable. Eventually. Yeah. Yeah, I think it's very doable when it comes to deadstock fabrics and things like that. But when you're adding, because that could be done on somewhat of a scale, you can have the same garment in several different sizes.

Yeah. Or you can have it in if it's not all the same fabric, you could have it all in similar fabrics at least, so I could see having a line and choices of sizes. But when it comes to, you know, the hand sewn aluminum sequins or plastic sequins that like, takes it to a whole other realm. Well, I that's definitely one of my goals in the future, right?

To create a more commercially accessible way to produce is I think that it's been something that's been on my mind for a long time because, I really I even enjoyed myself doing those projects because they're super tedious. It's hard and it's a lot of energy. And I, I really think it's a really good question to talk about because it needs to be discussed more, because sustainable textiles can be commercial.

They can. It's just, kind of figuring out that balance between, you know, the labor costs because the, the, the cost of materials is quite low, right? That, that finding that balance. I think is really a good question. And that's, where people are at currently. And I think that it's, you know, it's a good question.

You know, I hope that's something that is, figured out because, you know, they're talking more about it. But fashion industry creates an incredible amount of waste. And it has for decades. And it's it's terrible. Right. And it's like there's so many examples. I've done a lot of numerous research about, of course I'm going to blank on a little bit right now, but okay.

So you've done a lot of I did a lot of paper. I've done a whole paper. And on one of these sustainable textile resources and the waste that, you know, the fashion industry creates, like there's it's so extreme. And I think that, you know, it's I think like, well, where I guess I'll talk about is or what I'll talk what I'll speak about is that I think the push towards sustainable textiles and upcycling and thrifting has pushed it more into people's perspective.

But, you know, I think that it's not there yet. I think, you know, with the younger generation and things, it's become very, trending. And I think that that's also very impactful. But I think that we need to, you know, push it through more. But it's doing like, you know, with the rise of even upcycling like, artists on online, I think that it has actually kind of started circulating more talk.

But I think that, you know, definitely on a commercial level, it's it can be, you know, kind of seen through a little bit more. Definitely. So I hope so. You know, I've been out of, the fashion industry for so long that I'm sure it doesn't quite work the same way it did when I was there. You know, it's such a fast changing industry.

Me, there's always stuff going on, but I do know there's a lot of innovation and, progression, but, I mean, sometimes I it's, you know, it's it's it shouldn't be that big of a change, right? Like, it shouldn't, we think. But it's such a huge industry. Oh, yeah. When I was

I guess towards the end of my, I think I spent about a decade in the fashion industry and towards the end of it, I remember my friend and I were thinking that we would love to do a sustainable fashion line.

But really, the only things that were available were just the beginnings of organic cottons and organic wools and that kind of stuff, which were super, super duper expensive. We never fully dove into doing it, obviously, because here I am, having not done it. But we, I remember having those conversations. But even then, you know, the conversation was not about deadstock fabrics or anything other than than just organic fabrics.

So I'm glad to see that it has progressed from that. Well, on that note though, you bring up a really important part because, the kind of we talked, you know, I have a lot of friends for upcoming designers, right? I've been to many schools and we talk about production and just the general difficulties of even becoming upcycle, an upcoming designer and kind of having access to production costs and needs.

Right. Because I've had many friends in the show, even, you know, struggle with just finding affordable ways to get fabrics or even to, table makers or other things. And it's, you know, I think having access in New York was really helpful compared to like, other places. I mean, Chicago was a much smaller community, but even in New York, for just an example, it's a huge, you know, one of the biggest in the US.

Right? And people struggled and they had a really hard time, you know, accessing the correct materials that weren't like a bazillion dollars. Right. And it's always and it was a big topic in our class, kind of communicating like the difficulties of just, you know, starting to be an upcoming artist, right, and creating a brand and things like that.

And I think there's been a little bit, a lot of even cost me time. Knew that wanted to start bridging that gap more and making it accessible for upcoming people. I think, because a lot of people have great ideas. And so I think that that bridge is quite, you know, complex in the industry right now. Yeah.

No, of course it is. Well, hopefully there'll be a way to figure that out. I mean, there must be right there. There has to be. Oh, there, there's a way to make everything happen, but sometimes it just takes a handful of time. And that is hard. That sucks. I guess there will. We want it now. Yes. Absolutely. Well,

So who are you inspired by or influenced by these days for like like, are there fashion designers or artists who inspire you? That's a great question. I'm a little chaotic. I'm just kind. Be a little honest. I, you know, I actually have met a friend, and I feel like you'd really like her work, and, she is in, Scotland, and she takes plastic bottle caps from, different places.

And she has a community, center where she teaches kids how to upcycle them into tables and sequins and other things and has created islands of murals, communal murals out of upcycled bottle caps, and has created sustainable art sculptures. And the community has contributed with her. Oh, wow. So I truly find that really amazing. I even got to go see her, place.

And she taught me how to make her materials and, it was just such an amazing experience. And that was someone that, I found very inspiring. It's called the Plastic Shed. It's very. Yeah, I saw that. I was going to ask you about that. So you had to go to the UK to play in the plastic shed.

Yeah, well, my sister lived there, so I was getting her and so it was perfect. So we were like, oh my gosh, we can meet and converse. And I her work has been truly inspiring, especially for the community that she's worked for. And I think that that is like somebody who I'm really inspired by as she's pushed for, you know, a huge community of like upcycling and things.

And I think that was a really successful one, too, because that's one more thing now to, and I think there's been like, oh, I had to think about it. Who's like, yeah, I know, it's like, take your time.

oh, I guess, a big one, like I did a research project on them was Paco Rabanne.

I'm really chainmail, and I've always been inspired by his, upcycling collection from the 1960s. I did a whole research project on that. And actually the garment, it was not even, it was for something else, but, you know, that pink ombré one? Yeah. Yeah, that one was for that project with the plastic circles. Yeah. It was actually the inks I made.

Shrinky what? Shrinky dinks. You know that paper? As a kid, I needed a material that looked like. And so that wasn't really an upcycling project, but I needed something for that class. And so that was how that garment turned out. But it was so beautiful. Everyone was in love. Looked at that. I just had put it out there because I just thought it was such a beautiful piece.

That I honestly probably one of my favorites. I have a lot of favorites though, so I can't. I can't really say anything, but, from your children, I understand. Yeah, yeah, it's like picking a child. I'm like, I can never. I love them all. And they've all had different parts of me. Right. And so that one though was like, I only did three days.

Actually some of the most extreme. I can't even tell you about these projects that I've done. I think I did that whole thing in three days. I was, God, you wait. So you cut all of those circles out of the clear plastic? Yeah. Colored them. Yeah. Then you baked them or whatever, and then you assemble them into that dress in three days.

I assembled the whole thing. My mom actually helped me do a lot of the cutting and coloring, so. But I colored most of them. I think she mostly I, and I baked all of them, so she helped me hole punch them all out for me. So she kind of was helping me because honestly, my family members are my biggest help.

They're my biggest support system. That's why I couldn't have done anything without my family and honestly, just my friends. And like, I have oh, so much to so many friends that I have. They've supported me so much. Which? And your pets too? Yes. And my pet. I love my pets. And so you're good helpers. Oh, they are, they're like, pet me.

And I'm like, I just don't. He's like, love me. No, it's it's good. It's good balance. But, No. So that one was that was. But I've done some crazy time constricted projects. I actually I'm, I'm considered really crazy because I've done so many crazy projects in such a fast time. It's pretty intense. Yeah. Perhaps you don't.

You function well a little sleep, I guess. I make it work. That's what I tell people. The one that was, a really big one that I've done was, You really saw, like, a Lego outfit. And I did that probably in four days. I did the entire thing. I said to my teacher, sorry, I have to make garment for Teen Vogue.

And then I just looked.

That was little. Like they said, they're like, sure, have fun. And like, and we shot the whole thing in those four days. So that was kind of, Yeah, that was lovely opportunity. Wow. That's crazy. So you've done some collaborations I saw with like, fashion brands. Is that one? Yeah, I've done a handful of collaborations and, honestly, I just work with a lot of the community or upcycling people.

Or not upcycling, there's the community in general that's in Chicago. I worked with a lot of upcoming artists and designers just in general, the modeling groups and things. So a lot of it was just, community encouraged activities or like that meets nothing. I'm sorry. Carine. Community like shows and things like that. So it's kind of where a lot of my things have come from, I guess.

But, I've done a lot of collaborations with like some artists and some, musicians and things like that. And I've, I've enjoyed a lot of fun. So it's been really cool. Know, it's always fun to collaborate. Yeah. And so tell me more about the community project. Is it more about you sourcing the materials or are they actually helping you

process the materials?

I would say it's mostly sourcing because, I guess like my time limits are sometimes a little crazy that it's hard to just get people to come. But I would say mostly my family's, my support and helping produce a lot of things. But majority of the things I actually do by myself, which is kind of insane.

But some of the projects that you saw at the top of the page, because of the time constraints and I was also injured for half this year. So half my thesis was actually, not half my thesis, but I, my grandma and my aunt were helping crochet a lot of the pieces, but I had a nerve injury in my neck and so on, and so I couldn't really actually even look down or do anything.

So it was a very, stressful time, right? As my thesis was ending and so forth. And so I had a lot of support from my family, which means a lot to me. So but also, I honestly don't. Yeah, that's kind of who I usually would call to ask for help because they've helped me before, so.

Right. They're pretty consistent. And, you know, that's family. That's wonderful that you have a family you can count on to help you with these things. Oh, yeah. That's wonderful. So tell me, how did you discover aluminum cans?

I've never seen such beautiful sequins out of aluminum cans. Thank you. Oh, well, so I actually did the pilot, the bigger version as an experimental textile in that class years ago. Because I saw a technique because I was into knit. Right? Like I was. I majority of my career was in knits until maybe like the last like two years.

I mean, I only have five year career time in that long, so I can't even say it's that long. I would say I mostly have knit inspired, my grandma was also a big crochet or a knitter. She knits these beautiful baby sweaters and blankets, so she taught me. And so that was kind of where a lot of my textile was inspired, but okay.

I was at home and it was Covid. Refused to buy anything. A lot of this was just because I refused to buy things, which is great. Until after my own heart. Yeah. I was like, nope, I'm not buying fabric.

That's such a waste of my time. I was embroidering on leaves and twigs from outside and I was doing other experimental things with plastic. But I remember with plastic from like my house, like the bottled water bottles or whatever. And so I but I was going and my dad likes Coke, Coke zero. And he was drinking, you know, Coke here.

And he would have this huge bag of cans in the garage, and he would kind of give them away, like, like a human sized bag. Like it was huge. And so we had this huge bag in my garage, and I remember being like, and I saw this, it's like knitting with scales technique. And I was really inspired by the technique.

What it it's just really knitting with sequins. Like, you've probably seen the little technique of knitting with sequins and incorporating them into your. So it's just that technique. But instead I was like, oh, what if I just make my own sequins, right? Because that's kind of where my whole inspo has come from is making my own sequins, because I love sequins and I love sparkles.

So I was like, oh, I'll just make my own sequins at home. I can't, and that was I wish it was like, you know, that was kind of the the innovation or the idea. And I made a skirt. You made a, like a little thing, and then I just made a skirt. And that was kind of how, it started.

I just kept making different projects with that textile. And the soda tabs were also at the same time. So the bottle caps. Yes. Yeah. So that was kind of how it worked out. Very cool, very cool. So. Oh, but you have any favorite techniques for your garments? Yeah, I, I love the sequin technique. I'm a huge fan.

That was the most recent innovation. I think it's been of an innovation. And I love I love that I love like that idea of using that same material and kind of innovating it, but that one's probably one of my favorite, renditions, I guess of my loom can work because I've done like other sequin techniques, but this one is probably my favorite because of how usable it is.

I would say, yeah, no, it's gorgeous. You know, looking at it, I would have never known that that it was made from aluminum cans. So they're all like that, like long slivers, right? Yeah. They're, I guess they're called, Is it pyrite or something like that? Rolled sequins. Oh, I don't know the specific term, the, but it's just like a rolled sequin.

Oh, it's a bead. Not a bead sequin, but it's one of the. It's a rolled sequin. Like a thin, a thin roll cylinder, a cylinder, see? Oh, so they're real. So they're not. Oh, I thought they were flat rectangles. Long rectangles. Oh, no. They're rolled. Oh, wow. So each one was hand rolled by hand. My God. No, that's that's crazy.

It's crazy. Even crazier. Oh yeah. It's crazy. No it's awful. No, it's it's great. I mean I love that technique. It's actually a teacher because I was experimenting with different shapes. She's like, you know, you should experiment because you've done the pilots, those big ones, right? The scale, the Dragon scale one, they people call it, they call like a scale look.

And she's like, why don't you, like, experiment with other, like, skin types? Because you definitely can. And I was like, oh, you're right, I should like do it. And so finally when I went to fit, I took the time to figure it out. And so I made a bag, out of just for fun. And I kind of, like, really liked the technique.

I thought it was the most commercial version of my sequence that I've created. And I was, I had a different like, I had some different samples that I made of this dress. And so I kind of came into a rhythm, but, Yeah. And then I hand-rolled, like, majority of them. So how do you hand roll a piece of aluminum into a sequin?

I mean, pliers and do you have, like, a metal rod you roll it around or something? Nope. Just pliers. Just pliers. Yep. It's. Honestly, I sprained my wrist doing it. It was really painful because I was. I did so many a day, like, I was doing, like, 500 a day. Oh, my God. I would sit in class and do them because I'm not someone who ever sits in class.

So I kind of got my, my teachers and everybody used to me just like doing something. So I'd be crocheting, embroidering, making sequins, like I would be doing something and people would laugh because everyone would watch me doodle, right? Like they would. They knew that I it's just how I listen, right? And that was even how my whole art crew started.

It was by like I would just draw was listening to the teacher as well. That makes sense though. Yeah. So that's all process things in different ways. I yeah, that that was I was always a doodler. So I needed to be doing something with my hands in order to really absorb the information. Did you have a favorite doodle style?

I did, I have like several a couple of little ways. I doodle all the time. Yeah, me too. I have like it's like a set of like 4 or 5, so I'll pick which one I feel like that day, and I'll start a lens on how happy or something I am, but I'm pretty happy most of the time, so I would, I would just pick whatever I felt like, right.

I think that's great. Well.

Well, all right, so I did ask you what you thought your future was, but do you like, do you have your next job? You just graduated. Did you? I yeah, I'm actually I, I just started work last week, so I've just started my job, so I've been running around a little bit, but I, I work for Ralph Lauren right now.

So yeah, I work in their production, fashion production for luxury. So, yeah, it's great. I'm very content to be there. Are they interested in upcycling? They have an innovation department. They do work on innovation textiles. Like, I haven't seen it because I just started, but I do I did talk to somebody and they were like, oh my gosh, we have an innovation textile department.

You should go look for there one day. So I might go walk through because I'm, I'm on the design floor. So, what's up? All right. Well, we'll we'll need an update when you get there. I, I we go, oh that's exciting. Yeah. No. So that's kind of where I'm at right now. And I'm going to continue creating things.

I find you to just kind of part of my life. My daily life. Even so, it's just something that is really important to me. So, I'll continue creating just naturally and organically. Probably not as fast. I've hurt myself really badly this year. Slow down now. Yeah, like I don't need to do anything in three days anymore.

So that's kind of the goal. And I know that's like a more slow fashion approach, but, I think that I need that, and I think that it's honestly okay to do that, because I think that even in the fashion world that like, you got to go, go, go, go, it's like, I've done that for five years.

I'm a little tired. I think people would laugh if they saw me say, I'm tired. I feel like Jackie's never gone. She's crazy running around in a good way, but, like, yeah, I think it's time to just kind of actually fully, explore techniques and ideas that I actually like to do because, like, that big dress is something I've always wanted to do, but it takes a lot of time and hours to create something that hard.

And I love hard projects, so I'd rather take the time to do a hard project than do something quick and not as interesting. So very cool. Do you have any interest in costume design? That's a good question. No, actually I did. I, I worked with the costume designer for it. She's also one of she's a great friend of mine.

And she, she made, some amazing costume. So actually, on the note of that, you know, the belt pants maybe. Yeah, that was a costume. Okay. Actually meant for a play. And the play had some, you know, didn't work out, but, it was actually a costume. And so that was. That's always my fun. It was inspired by the tooth of crime that play.

And so it's, that those, those outfits actually were inspired, by that play to create pieces. And so that was her like inspiration and everything to create these belt pants. And so I just made them for her. But I, I have some currently. But, you know, she's like, we share them. But it's okay. Yeah. No, it's it's it's, I've done a lot of costume.

And I love costumes, and I love, like, arts and theater and things like that. It's very cool. But, maybe one day just kind of. I kind of let it. Look, I've just. I've decided life should let me go where it wants, and I just kind of go with it. Yeah, but with your skills, I could totally see you working in a, you know, like a Broadway costume shop and making very specific garments for some amazing show.

High praise. Thank you. That would be so amazing. My sister and my sister's a makeup artist. And so we have like, we're like huge fans of, like, the theater and the costumes that people make, it's it's beautiful and like, even just like, like I'm close to and I've seen like, wicked and things like that. Oh, amazing. They're so beautiful.

So they are. And they're one of a kind, right? Yes, absolutely. Well, they're not one of a kind. Sometimes I have five each of one of a kind. Oh that's true depending on the show. But yeah, well, actually my one of my friends was, neighbors with the, the original creator of the costumes for wicked, like, years ago and.

Oh, wow. Like, he was telling me all about. And I thought that was the coolest thing ever. I was like, wow, yeah, I have to meet her. I would just say, know, that's great. I worked at a costume shop way back when and helped cut some costumes for Chicago. Oh, that was that was my claim to fame. I'm really exciting.

I know that to me, that's so cool. It's. Hey, costumes are hard there. Oh, my God. Yeah, it's a whole art. And it's it's very different than commercial. And it's beautiful. Huge. Yeah. Amazing. Really. So yeah. So you have many paths ahead of you that's very, very exciting. You know, you never know where life is going to take you next.

And that's, that's the joy of it. Right. So, yeah. So you're planning to stay in New York, though, for now. Yeah. Yeah. My, you know, I, I like I'm enjoying the East Coast. I think it's really lovely. And I'm really happy with where I am. And, you know, see, I probably for now, you never know, but.

So, yeah, for now, I will be here. Yeah. That sounds great. Yeah. All right. So I'm going to ask you a serious question, okay. All right. So in our current climate, you know, I'm sure you have heard all the climate catastrophes that are happening, and we're basically in a climate crisis. What do you think is an artists or a fashion designers or a costume designers role during this time?

That's a great question. I, I appreciate your question for this because actually, so last year, I was actually a part of the climate activists event in New York. It was in Brooklyn. And it's an it's a free event for the community to come and like, learn about climate change and the other different things that contribute to that.

And also sustainable fashion and the practices that are related to that. So I think that, you know, I think that it's very serious and I think that it's a really big issue that people are kind of avoiding and looking away from. But I think it's really important now, more than ever to, you know, be conscious of our choices in life, but also, you know, contribute to helping the Earth, because the Earth does so much for us.

And we need to get back to it. And that's probably what I will say, because, you know, I think the earth is so beautiful and it is such a beautiful place, and I am so happy that I get to be here and, appreciate the world. And I think that, we need to think like that. Right? And we need to take care of the earth.

And I think that, artists and designers, we need to be conscious of it. We need to be aware of the choices because, you know, fashion damages the earth a lot. And I've seen I've watched documentaries and read a lot of, you know, page papers on the impacts of fashion. And I think that, it's real and it's really important for us to be educated and aware that fashion has destroyed a lot of the earth.

And but there are ways to, you know, be innovative around that. Right? So we just need to be creative. And that's really what people need right now is creativity in general, because that's what humans are really good at, is being creative. Like, I know a lot of people would be like, oh, I'm not creative. We're all creative if we need to be right.

And I think that's my my take on that. I love that. I wholeheartedly agree creativity will save us. And one of the things I think about is the fact that, you know, the Earth is the best planet. We don't know of any other ones. Right. That could compare. So we need to keep it in good stead for us because, you know, nature evolves.

If if we all die off, the planet will still be here, evolved in a new way. So we really need to save it for us. Absolutely. So that survive. Absolutely. Yeah. But I completely agree with you about creativity. Yeah. I think creativity will save us all and we just need to we all have it. We just need to exercise it.

Yeah. I think even, to kind of contribute to that. Like my really close friend is from India and I love her because she, you know, how was I going to go about this? Because I had I had a good thing to say, but I think like, oh, you know, oh, this is a very small thing, but it makes sense.

So she was telling me how, you know, like, I just love her because she's, she's amazing. But, she would she would take her old shirts and she would use them when she would paint, right. She would, she would take her old shirts and use them as rag. She would do all these things. And that's such a small thing that everybody can do, right?

It's like not just throw your shirt away, but to give it new life as your, you know, to dab your paint brushes to clean the floor. Right. As a rag. And it's such a small thing, but, you know, it. I mean, like, I remember her seeing that and being like, you know what? You're so right. Right.

Like and like, I mean, I, I, you know, I would use them for fabric or of, like, whatever upcycling. Right. But it's it. And I think what happens for a lot of people is like, I can't do anything. It's it's too big of a problem that I can't contribute at all. But my friend used her shirts as rags and, you know, didn't buy a towel or like, right.

And it was such a small thing and you could just put it in the washing machine and then it's, you know, you have a new rag again. Right? And it's all those things that we can all do. Yeah. There's so many cool things that we can do. Absolutely. And if we're all doing small things it all adds up.

And that's and so I think that's where my, my hope comes from. Right. Is that you know my work even also is like yeah my work is really extreme sometimes like people would be like oh my gosh. Like you know I can't make things like that right or whatever. Right. But it's it's, it's like, oh my gosh, I can think differently.

Right. You know, we can all we can do it. If I can make cans of the sequins and hand roll stuff, you know, it's it's it's possible. And I think that's where my work is right now. And I want people to know that, you know, you can unravel your sweaters and make something new again. Right? Like it's it's a small things.

Right. But then somebody at home could be like, you know, I don't wear this sweater. And then they unravel it and they make it into a new shirt or give it to a friend. Right. It's like, that is something people can do or they can donate their cans to me. Right. Like, you know, it's it's terrible, but like, you know, like, but it makes them feel like they're doing something and true helps all the time.

Yeah, I love that. Oh, thank you so much, Jackie. Thank you. Fun conversation. Thank you for having me. This is so much fun I love I love talking to you. Had some amazing questions. So good. Good. Yeah. Oh thank you.

That was such a fun conversation. I'm so glad I got to talk to Jackie at the beginning of her career. I can see some really amazing things happening for her in the future. I cannot wait to see how her career develops. Thanks for being here. Thanks for listening. Please rate review. Click the little follow button and share this podcast with everyone that you can think of.

I really, really deeply appreciate that.

This podcast was created, produced and edited by me, Natalya Khorover. Theme music by RC Guida. To find out more about me, go to Art by Natalya.com, to find out about my community go to Repurposer Collective.com and to learn with me check out all my offerings at EcoLoop.Art. Thank you for listening.