My name is Mary Colmar, and I make deconstructed clothing. It is something I have always done. Making exactly what I want with what is lying around: tons of unwearable clothing. Sometimes when people do this, it can look ridiculous, but it shows so much creativity.
It is streetwear to the essence, although it does not consist of traditional skatewear. My peeps wear it for working at play. It is always durable and functional, with hidden pockets and the like. Always cut to flatter all sexes. My upcycle fashions can be custom-made well, too.
Men’s Vest with CF zipper and double big pockets to hold much stuff.
The story behind all this began as I worked in the fashion industry in NYC, first as a designer, then as a patternmaker/technical designer, all while raising three kids.
I bagged a job where I only worked four days a week, about 36 hours, enabling me to create independently and be around for my community and family.
You could imagine the kind of clothing we all needed, just not found.
Something we could wear from the playground to the city, with pockets for drinks, keys, and phones. Something like what all streetwear needs.
But I had tons of clothes kids were outgrowing that I became sentimental about and wanted to get more wear out of.
So, I made stuff, and my neighborhood intervened and told me to get a studio in Brooklyn. That lasted for six glorious months.
Then I moved to the suburbs of So Cal. It was different, but I still found a way to make clothes, hats, and the ultimate vest to wear all the time, on a bike, to the beach, as the casual item to go around anywhere. #nopursenecessary
As a mom, I was pulled in lots of directions, most of all to care for the family. The family grows and succeeds gratefully, and the living room became my studio, ramped up from the garage. Still, it’s time to move into the massive warehouse where I will collect and sort clothing, follow tech packs to cut pieces, and manufacture in Santa Ana, CA, L.A., and possibly Ethiopia.
The community I have created with my work revolves around art and social work.
Music is fast becoming part of it as my customers wear my clothing to perform on stage.
My family is an influence and part of the empire. As an artist and scientist, my brand is a solution to keeping clothing out of landfill with endless possibilities for products. #noclothesinthelandfill
Right now, we make t-shirt bags, hats, dresses, blouses, jackets, shirts, pants, skirts, and lots of vests of every stripe.
Our distribution mode is through the artisanal farmers market, Melrose, Claremont, Newport Beach, and at museum gift shops: The Da, L.A. Museum of Craft, Museum of Art and History.
Our customers try to be the first ones to buy when we open, and often we need help to keep up with demand. We see our product/service growing beyond the one-off and have plans to scale up and accomplish the imminent mass production.
Often, people need help with small things to make their clothing wearable, and we would like to be a part of that education process.
We want to focus on the family of whatever form that takes and design. We wish to make people comfortable in their skin, helping them pursue their activities.
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