The little town of Gainesville in Florida is known for its university and its football team (and by football team, I mean Tim Tebow). But aspiring artists also reside in that city, including 23-year-old Brittany Yurkovitch (by way of Tampa). This philosophy major turned dress designer launched Rehashed Fashion more than two years ago when she realized there was a demand for what she was supplying.
Read my interview with Brittany!
♥
Oh to Be a Muse: How long have you had a passion for fashion?
Brittany Yurkovitch: I've always had a passion for art, drawing, painting and anything creative. I always liked pretty clothes, but I never thought about making anything myself until I had the idea to sew together t-shirts and bras [and] bikini tops.
Muse: Did you find it difficult to break into the Gainesville fashion scene?
BY: Not really. I've stayed away from Gainesville's official Fashion Week because there are fees associated with those events. However, I met a girl in a Race and Racism anthropology course who modeled in UF's Caribbean Student Association's Fashion and Talent Showcase. She was able to help me get my dresses featured in the 2009 show and again in the 2010 show.
Muse: Does being in Gainesville make it easier or harder: finding the clothes, models, getting the word out, etc.?
BY: Gainesville is a great place for Rehashed because of the student body population. I also have my dresses in two shops: the Land B4 Time Smoke Shop and Persona...[and] an abundance of beautiful girls volunteering to model for pictures so Gainesville has been good to me.
Lately, I have been getting requests for larger sized busts. This request is somewhat difficult because good quality and pretty bikini tops for large busts are challenging to find.
Muse: How do you brand/market your clothing?
BY: Because I use t-shirts, I have many marketing opportunities. I approached the Land B4 Time Smoke Shop to carry my dresses because I thought the customers coming into a smoke shop might appreciate sustainable fashion that uses hemp. Also, Persona caters to a market that looks for unique, one-of-a-kind pieces so my dresses fit in with what the consumers are looking for.
Muse: Why bras and t-shirts?
BY: Many women enjoy the cleavage benefits of bras and bikini tops. So, why mess with a good thing? Also, I do all my work by hand so I need materials that will not require me to do a lot of finishing work with a sewing machine.
Muse: How has your world changed since the beginning of Rehashed?
BY: Recently, I ran into a friend that I haven't seen [in] about 4 or 5 years. He introduced me to his friends as "remember that girl I was telling you about who makes all those dresses." Lately, I have been getting more and more people knowing me for my dresses, which is cool because they are excited about something that resulted from my own creative efforts, which is kind of neat.
Muse: Any new styles--adding pants, jewelry, etc?
BY: Now that the weather is finally warm, I have been exclusively making dresses. However, this winter was particularly cold and I was not selling
any dresses so I started Rehashing some jackets. I found very good quality fitted jackets--cut blazer style--and I sewed, with hemp, t-shirt designs onto the jackets.
Muse: If you could style one celebrity who would it be?
BY: Good Question. Probably Lady Gaga because I know she would be down for something crazy and would be willing to try something new.
I am motivated by the continual compliments and requests by complete strangers. Many, many moments are memorable in that they give me a sign that I'm doing the right thing and that people like what I'm creating. I am still excited when someone stops me and asks what I'm wearing.
inspirations: Neons, halter tops, Barbie, Lady Gaga and Kate Carleton--a friend of mine who creates tons of badass t-shirt designs.
♥
what do you think about Rehashed Fashion?
If you're interested in any of Brittany's environmentally friendly pieces, then check out her facebook page for
Rehashed Fashion, and look out for her Etsy account this summer!