“What on Earth Will I Do with a Ton of Denim?”
“I have mixed-toned denim—but you have to buy the whole bale. A thousand pounds.”
That was the unexpected reply from Tony, my raghouse supplier. Normally, he sourced soft castoffs—cashmere for my appliqué sweaters. But this time, I needed something sturdier: denim. And not just any denim. I needed variety—mixed tones and varying weights for a special request from a longtime retailer.
This story is woven in both word and image. Visual collaborators featured in the full Substack story include:
"Valerie Dress"- High/low denim dress. Photo of model Aduta Atem by Ruben Domingo
"A Wall of Denim"-A wall of jeans at the raghouse warehouse
"The Bale"-The 1,000 lb bale of denim, forklifted into our van.
"My Denim Mountain"-My denim mountain-a color field of tones.
"Color Story"-From white to indigo. A partial color story
"Los Angeles Times"-The masks and me. Photo by Brian van der Brug / Los Angeles Times. Photo by Brian van der Brug / Los Angeles Times
"Performance Art"-Custom distressed black denim jacket, Musician Shannon Clark
"Denim Wedding"-The Diana mermaid dress in white upcycled denim. Photo of Julia Ruth by Lukas Van Dyke
"Fashion editorial, Gala Greece"-Gala Greece: Rainey Star Forkner in the Cher Jean- photo by Svenja Ava
"Zero Waste Design"-A one of a kind floral appliqué jacket, beaded with vintage jewelry. Photo of Aduta Atem by Ruben Domingo
"Croquis Circle Workshop"-Appliqué croquis in upcycled denim, leather, findings.
"Denim on Denim"-I’m wearing a distressed black upcycled denim high/low dress and studded jacket. Photo by Giselle Nicole
Explore my Upcycled Denim Collection
>Denim, Bags, and Hats, available on my website.
Curious about Croquis Circle Workshops? Visit > Creating Eco Conscious Fashion
> Join our list to get updates on new launches, creative sessions, and behind-the-scenes stories.
If this glimpse speaks to you, the full reflection is on Substack: “What on Earth Will I Do with a Ton of Denim?”
Join me on a new journey
Stories of land, love, and eco-fashion—rooted in memory, made with care.
Subscribe to receive new writings as they unfold.
