Up-Cycle Clothing in Ottawa: ShopHaven talks to Tweal

Feb 18, 2011 by Natasha

Meet Judy.
She is an Ottawa designer that creates up-cycle clothing (items created from recycled fabrics).  She is known on Etsy as Tweal Tweal.

During one of our “Etsy-shopping” nights, we came across several of Judy’s pieces and were impressed by the creativity and uniqueness of her pieces. So we got in touch with her to find out more about the person behind the creations, her work and philosophy of up-cycle clothing.

Judy has been sewing for as long as she can remember. After sewing her first item – a handbag made out of recycled fabrics – she knew her apparel will always contain an element of creativity beyond what the shops can offer. She went on to design skirts, shirts and even lingerie. From there she went on to design shirts, skirts and lingerie. The rest, as they say, is history.

ShopHaven (SH): Your brand name is tweal, what’s a “Tweal”?
Judy (J): It’s actually a random word that I came up when all the ‘good’ names I could think of, were taken. According to Urban Dictionary, ‘tweal is the epitome of awesomeness’, which works for me!

SH: How long have you been designing for?
J:  I have always been designing. When I was little, I would make clothes for my dolls. I didn’t actually make functional pieces of clothing until I was a teenager.  I like to make things from scratch, and have a good eye for design and measurement. I rarely use numbers or rulers, and I’m not a patterns person either. I like my pieces to be unique and special.

SH: How did you get started in the fashion business?
J:  Sewing has always been in my family. I dabbled with it as a child, and in high school I made my prom dress for myself and a friend. Then I did a co-op placement with a seamstress and I learned a lot from her.

SH: Where do your ideas come from?
J: Many places – people, fashion, pop culture, dreams. Often I find great fabric and use that as inspiration.  I like to think on my feet and make the most of what I  have. I also like the challenge of creating something without wasting a lot of material.

SH: Where do your materials come from?
J:   I love to recycle and re-use already existing items, so I purchase a lot of pieces from the thrift stores.  I especially love Value Village. I try to make the most out of one piece of fabric, so if I find something big, I make something big. I often use one garment in various pieces of clothing, as patches, embellishments, ruffles, etc.

I especially like to challenge myself with ugly things. Finding something really, breath-takingly ugly is rare, but it’s a great way to challenge myself creatively. When I find a gem of ugliness, I will buy it, take it apart, and re-create it into something beautiful; it’s the ultimate makeover.

SH: What do you see as the next big must-have for clothing items and
accessories?
J: I definitely see a lot of 2 in 1 pieces becoming the trend – the reversible tops are very popular now. People want clothing that is adaptable, clothing that you can interpret and wear your own way, clothing that is versatile and interesting to look at without limiting comfort and movement, clothing that helps you express your personal style without manufacturing it for you.

SH: What is your favourite material? What is your favourite colour?
J:  I love Cotton.  I also love happy looking prints, lots of bright colors.

SH: Do you accept special orders? Can someone call you and ask to meet for you to custom make something?
J: I don’t do custom work – it cramps my style! I decided this early in my sewing career, and I don’t regret the decision. My sewing is my creative expression, and it just doesn’t work if I have to take into account someone else’s opinion. I may accept an idea or a suggestion for something, but that’s all it is – a suggestion. Every piece that I make is one-of-a-kind and made without a traditional pattern – so you are guaranteed to be the only person with any one of my items!

I like making clothes with elastics and adjustable material instead of buttons or zippers, because I like things to be soft and comfortable with the body, not stiff and unnatural. My sizing is unique in that I don’t really have sizes. I give approximations (S,M,L) along with measurements in inches, so a person can measure themselves or one of their well-fitting garments and compare it with what I show.

SH: What do you love most about your craft?
J:  I love being my own boss and having the freedom to use my creativity to create different pieces. I feel like a kid playing with my favourite toys!

SH: What’s the oddest thing you’ve made?
J:  My high school wardrobe contained a lot of strange pieces, vintage and handmade. One time I made a pair of bellbottoms out of ‘Fox and the Hound’ curtains (which I never wore), and just recently I made a book of 10 tiny quilts for an art project with The Art House Co-op in NY.

SH: What are your favourite items to make?
J: It’s hard to choose because I love everything that I make. My inspiration goes in cycles, some weeks I’m all about quilts and other times, I can’t make enough clothing. Lately, I’ve been working on little girl’s dresses, which are super fun to make and so cute to admire!

SH: What are your least favourite items to make?
J: Pants aren’t very fun to make.

SH: Do you carry your items in Ottawa stores? Are you interested in your own shop?
J:  I would love to have my own store one day, that is something I’ve always dreamed of. I currently sell my designs on Etsy, ArtFire, and I have a few pieces at ‘Green n Groovy’ in Ft. Myers, FL, and ‘Pack Rats’ in Columbia, SC. Nothing local yet but I’d like to get tweal into some Ottawa stores, maybe Montreal too.

SH: Where do you see yourself in 5 years?
J: Having fun, sewing like crazy, and hopefully with my own store! I try to stay in the moment and enjoy each day as much as I can, so I’d like my business to have a natural growth progression.

SH: What would you like to tell Ottawa people about fashion?
J: Fashion is fun! Don’t take anything too seriously. Be proud of yourself and comfortable with your body. Express yourself. But leave the pajama pants at home!

SH: Thanks Judy!