Featured Designer: Emma Zack, Berriez
Where are you from_ Boston
Where are you based_ Brooklyn, NY
Age_ 29
Where did you study_ Occidental College in Los Angeles, CA.
What year did you graduate_ 2014
When did you first start employing the process of upcycling in your work_
Being a vintage seller, it seemed only natural to dabble in the world of upcycling. I also noticed the lack of shops offering upcycled pieces in plus-sizes, so I wanted to fill that gap. We started with a line of hand-felted vintage sweaters – inspired by the vintage sweater genius Michael Simon – and we’ve since moved on to other designs and materials.
What inspired you to start upcycling discarded/unwanted/deadstock materials_
There are so many materials (clothing, fabric, linens) that already exist, why not just use what we already have and make something new? It’s better for the planet! For this specific collection, we decided to upcycle popcorn tops because of the stretchiness of the material and its ability to fit multiple sizes. We’re also able to source them fairly easily. At one point, I noticed at least 8-10 popcorn tops in my collection, none of which had sold. So, we thought, “Let’s take these shirts and make something fresh and sexy out of ‘em.”
What materials do you use in your work_
Secondhand and vintage clothing, vintage fabrics, vintage linens (i.e, tablecloths and curtains), and scrap fabrics.
What role does the process of upcycling play in the fashion industry today? What about in the future? How do you see the craft evolving_
It’s cool to see so many new brands popping up that exclusively focus on upcycling, finding new ways to craft different garments out of the same materials. I mean, who knew vintage towels could make such cute bucket hats?! Over time, people will only become more creative with the materials they use and the upcycled designs they create. It’s hard to believe that, just a few years ago, there were only a handful of brands employing the technique.
If you could change one thing about the fashion industry, what would it be_
I want the cool shit to be accessible to everyone. There are so many designers whose pieces I want to wear, but they don’t offer anything over size L. And when they do, they rarely showcase the clothing on bigger bodies – how are we supposed to know that 1. It exists; and, 2. It’ll fit?!
What’s up next for you_
Another upcycled sweater collection. More collaborations with designers who focus solely on upcycling (i.e., House of Tame, Shop Journal, Fyre Vintage). Dreaming of a long-term popup or retail space.
— Emma Zack, founder of Berriez, is a vintage dealer and designer who lives and works in Brooklyn. / @shopberriez