Design Challenged, Fashion Upcycled
Upcoming Fibershed Showcase + Recap of Hem & Jaleo
Ahhhh, Hem & Jaleo showcase is finally done and I can take a break from sewing.
Or can I?
Well, not yet! There’s one more showcase to do. If you remember the August 2023’s “Upcycling, With Care” newsletter, I was making a couple of warm-up garments as part of my participation in Fibershed’s Design Challenge: Borrowed from the Soil. I first talked about my participation in this challenge in the June 2023 newsletter; how it’s a great opportunity to explore regional textile sourcing, longevity in design and zero waste pattern making.
As the title suggests, the two main topics for this month are:
Group exhibition for Fibershed Design Challenge Fall 2023
Introspection of Hem & Jaleo showcase
So let’s go, let’s go, let’s go!
One more showcase: Fibershed Design Challenge
Sometime in late August / early September (when I was in the thick of Hem & Jaleo preparation), I got news that my application to participate in Fibershed’s Fall 2023 showcase was accepted. That’s awesome, right?
After making sure with the Fibershed Design Challenge organizer that I don’t need to submit any finished prototype before the end of October, I happily committed to join this group showcase alongside 8 designers. All of us come from different North California locations - from Sacramento to Carmel - and we will be converging together in Point Reyes.
For this Fall showcase, we will be presenting our work-in-progress prototype. The prototype can touch some or all of the design challenge technical focuses: regional textile sourcing, longevity in design, and zero waste pattern. I’m super excited to see what everyone brings to the showcase and how they choose to present their works!
What about my prototype? Well, it’s going to be a jumpsuit prototype, as I decided back in August. The survey takeaways from local jumpsuit wearers have been very insightful and I’m looking forward to creating a beautiful prototype that some neighbors can lend to “test drive” for a few days!
That said, I had some difficulties pinning down the actual fabric to create this prototype in. My first fabric choice seems too thick to execute this design in. I’m now taking my time to test out my second fabric choice, but that means I run out of time to create a jumpsuit prototype for this fall showcase.
So, instead of using any regionally grown textile choices, I’m making my first jumpsuit prototype version using a pre-owned 100% cotton bedsheet. I got this beautiful material from my flamenco classmate, and I’m really happy that she entrusted me to create something beautiful out of this material.
I worked quite frantically and almost without any documentation - quite an anomaly in my usual process - but it can’t be helped. I was exhausted from post- Hem & Jaleo showcase follow-ups, and I also had a weekend trip to South California that shaved down my working time.
Long story short, I was able to execute a jumpsuit prototype featuring a wrap top and wraparound pants with folded sides. My idea is to create a jumpsuit in which the wearer can swap the top or bottom part, or wear each piece separately.
In addition to the jumpsuit and the two warmup garments I made in August, I also made a basic 6-square top out of California Cotton & Climate Coalition (C4) cotton jersey fabric. Technically, the wearer can choose to swap out the teal green wrap top with the white knit tee.
At the end of the setup day, my jumpsuit prototype is displayed on a dress form, while three other garments hang from a suspended tree branch. Sketches of the designs are shown on a pedestal nearby, and the previously-draped-on-a-grand-piano Gathered Cloths pieces are now decorating the floor.
My section setup represents who I am as a textile upcycler (Gathered Cloths “rug”), and my initial explorations in regional textiles with the two warmup garments. They lead to my 6-square top study made out of C4 cotton jersey fabric, and my first jumpsuit prototype (a 7-square top attached to a pair of wraparound pants) made out of 100% cotton bedsheet.
We will have opening reception this weekend on Saturday, November 11, from 11 am to 2pm. The Fibershed Design Exhibition is going to be held from November 10 to 16. Come check out our works in-person if you happen to visit the area!
Hem & Jaleo: Was it a Success?
Gosh, preparing for a showcase is not a small feat. Not only I was designing garments and sewing, but I was also designing the event and executing them. I believe I have written a great length about it for the past four issues, so hopefully it gives you a glimpse of what I’m going through from month to month. And if you follow me on Instagram, you might have seen a reel or two (or three!) about post- Hem & Jaleo.
Now that it’s over, I’m able to say that it was a great success overall. When I have a great partner to execute a vision with, I recognize fully what a divine blessing it is. So thank you Logan Evasco of Climate Creative for supporting me all the way through.
What the two of us are able to accomplish together is nothing short of extraordinary. While I designed the event (from event objectives to actionable tasks), Logan spearheaded the fund raising and started the marketing efforts.
On the D-day, she handled the front of house and led the crew of volunteers, while I took care of the backstage action, including photoshoots, models, and flamenco performers.
I’m really proud of how Hem & Jaleo went down. All of the sessions went as expected with planned timelines. Event goers were well fed and hydrated with a vegan food truck Casita Vegana SF on-site (that’s already paid for) and sponsored drinks.
At its peak, we had 80+ people joining Hem & Jaleo, which was on the upper limit of The Dome’s capacity sweet spot of 60 - 80 people. Many of them came early (3pm) and stayed until the very end (9pm!) and had to be gently ushered out. Even one of my neighbors came, and she left a stellar review of “y’all are missing out” to the rest of the neighbors who couldn’t come.
The Life Drawing models were stellar - Sierra, Nik, and Rachel did a fantastic job during the pre-event photoshoot. Each of them was able to have a mini photoshoot with the awesomely talented Lisa Beth Anderson around The Dome space. The pictures spoke for themselves! You can read about the story behind each outfit on last month’s issue.
Their energy continued pouring through during the Life Drawing session. About 2 dozen audience members join the session, sketching and sharing their results with each other afterwards!
I have to say that we got really lucky with the crowd. They were very engaged; either enthusiastic skechers and/or super chill yet supportive audience members during the live flamenco performances.
Featuring flamenco artist Clara Rodriguez mentioned, “Hmm, we have a great crowd tonight!” at the end of the second number of the first flamenco set. (There were two setlists for the night.)
A few days after Hem & Jaleo, I got so hyped with the pictures that Lisa Beth Anderson took, that I submitted a written piece alongside some of her beautiful captures of Sierra, Nik, and Rachel for Fashion Revolution USA’s editorial consideration. (Check out their past 4th edition here.) Fingers crossed!
Now, what could’ve been better? I’d zoom in on one thing: Clara’s dress.
It would’ve been better if I could complete the dress early and leave it for her to spend time with, at least one week before the showcase. This would’ve allowed her to experiment with what’s possible with the garment, as well as allowed me to observe its pain points and address it in less rushed manner.
Alas, I had a hard time deciding the fabric to execute the design with. I had a magenta-colored fabric set aside to create the Goudet Goddess dress out of. However, I knew in my heart that it was the wrong choice for Clara, so I waited until almost the last minute to scout new fabric choices. Long story short, I got a printed teal-colored quilting cotton fabric and scraps of embellished polyester organza to play with.
The dress execution was not the best, but heck, Clara danced full on with this dress worn on top of her matching(!) teal-colored flamenco skirt. Watching her dancing and working the dress to its fullest potential despite its flaws, even breaking the hem due to her powerful footwork and my rather shoddy last-minute hemming job, I was sooooo happy.
I plan to create some Instagram content about Clara’s dress. So make sure you follow me on Instagram if you haven’t already!
Was Clara’s dress execution the only thing that could’ve been done better? Of course not. We tend to be our own worst critic and I am not an exception. My flamenco dancing quality left a lot to be desired, I should’ve reminded Clara to introduce herself, I could’ve done better in creating marketing materials with clearer message to better attract event goers, and having a playbill for setting up people’s expectations would’ve been nice.
Will I talk more about any of them here? No, I made peace with all of those things. Lessons learned, memories remain, life goes on.
If I can share ONE tip for budding artists who consider having an in-person showcase, I’d say secure your fund before executing your event. If possible, have 75% of funds (including what compensation you want to get for yourself) ready before you start executing your plans.
In my case, the fund raising (thank goodness for Logan) happened during the event planning and execution. More often than not, it made me very anxious.
The gathered funds ended up covering the production costs, but honestly I gave a lot more blood, sweat, and tears than what the ticket net sales generated.
Going forward, I need to figure out other ways to keep doing this sustainably - that means being compensated for the corresponding amount of labor. Being a fulltime artist is definitely an uphill battle, but hopefully I’ll get to the peak!
BONUS: What’s Next
I imagine that I will naturally wind down from frantic designing and sewing for the rest of the year and early next year. My current plans are:
catch up to update Gallery with works from 2022 and 2023, including Hem & Jaleo and Fibershed Design Challenge
start figuring out a way to do paid subscription. Like I said, I need to be realistic and sustainable as an artist. I plan to publish more detailed how-tos as a paid post first on Substack, then revise and publish it as a blog post on my website (for free) a few months later.
That’s all for now. Oh wait - this newsletter issue marks my one-year Substack newsletter anniversary!
So what do you think, readers? How do you like this newsletter so far? Please comment or send me a message. I thought committing myself to write a newsletter every month would be nearly impossible, but here we are.
Thank you so much for reading; until next time,
Mira Musank
Thank you so much, Clery :) That's really sweet of you, and I appreciate you reading my monthly newsletter. May the future issues continue to be full of insights and inspirations!
Congrats on your one year newsletter anniversary! I enjoy reading about the insights of your creative process, the beauty of how you lay out the content and images, I find it inspiring! Thank you, Mira!