“Thrifted Sheets” Designer statement

Initially, this collection was rigid and strict. In all honesty, I do not remember much about the beginning stages of trying to come up with a concept that I was passionate about. It was not until I was a few weeks into the start of the semester when I went to some local thrift stores surrounding my college campus that I saw an incredible floral bedsheet: it had a retro-inspired floral motif in cool-tones, mostly purples, blues, and greens. Quickly snatching this bedsheet, the shape of a dress immediately came to mind. This was the start of the collection.

Inspired by muted tones, subtle prints, and boxy silhouettes, “Thrifted Sheets” was created. This original collection was designed with minimalism in mind: cropped blouses with contrasting asymmetrical zippers, flowy sleeves and tiered skirts to provide balance to the raw hems. There was no desired fit or shape for any of the garments. Instead, my focus was on allowing myself to feel a sense of freedom in simply creating for the sake of creating. This collection was the first time I truly allowed myself to feel this sense of freedom in putting fabric and thread together to make pieces that bring me joy.
Although I created this collection a few years ago, looking back I still feel a sense of timelessness. There’s nothing technical or difficult about the designs, but instead it’s the mixing of prints, colors, and textures that make this collection so visually appealing. They were just thrifted sheets. Contrasting the fabrics just right allows the viewer to feel a sense of ease and effortlessness. My hope is that this collection can give inspiration to other young designers to find their own joy in creating.

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-Katelyn Chormicle