Parsons students launch clothing lines with a focus on sustainability

After a summer of conceptualizing, brand building, and sewing, Parsons School of Design second-year Hannah Estrada dropped her new clothing line this past Fashion Week. 

“I was able to work with a lot of really cool people,” she said, “everyone was just really excited, because Fashion Week was happening and we got to be a part of it.” 

The collection is made from 100% recycled materials. Estrada scoured second hand stores like L Train Vintage in search of oversized cargo pants, which she later cut apart to sew into new fabric. “The materials for the collection I bought here [in New York City], and then I made everything [at home],” she said. 

Reusing second hand clothing gave Estrada an accessible and affordable way to create clothing sustainably. Nothing was wasted; Estrada also recycled the buttons and zippers. She wanted to piece things together to “see how [she] could make something new.”

At the start of her design process, Estrada used writing, moodboards, color schemes, and other references to inspire the collection. She describes her aesthetic as “dynamic and definitely changing.” 

“I really love using masculine features in my clothing, but then also make them really flattering for a woman’s body,” she said. She wants her clothes to have “a little bit of punk, a little bit of edginess,” but also to be “form fitting and clean cut.”

Estrada’s mom helped guide her through the design process. “My mom taught me how to sew growing up,” said Estrada. “I was in that sewing room all day for a few weeks, which was tough, but if I had any questions she would help me out,” she said.

Estrada sewed the whole collection herself.

Since starting her brand, consistency has been a challenge, especially during the school year. “I’m a fashion student and I have constant projects and work,” said Estrada, “but what’s nice is I’m able to take what I do in school and apply it to my brand.” 

Estrada isn’t alone. Parsons second-year Gigi Gibowicz also recently launched her own clothing line, Curtain Closet.

Gibowicz describes her style as “eclectic maximalist.”  She does patchwork to combine different materials together in one piece, and uses lots of buttons and embellishments. “Just a lot going on is very much my aesthetic,” she adds. 

“I get a lot of inspiration from high fashion and couture,” said Gibowicz, “but also from what I see people wearing every day, my friends, and just New York City.”  She then builds on her ideas through sketching and moodboards.

Curtain Closet also emphasizes sustainability through second hand shopping. “I source materials from second hand thrift stores or recycled fabric. People give me a lot of their old clothes and old tablecloths, curtains and everything,” she  explained.  

Gibowicz stresses the value of recycling in order to make affordable sustainable clothing. “You can still make sustainable fashion by reusing fabrics that may be made of synthetic materials, but you’re preventing them from going to a landfill,” she explained. “If you make them with high quality, then they’re gonna last somebody a long time,” she continued. 

In the future, Gibowicz wants to continue to grow Curtain Closet. “I think the end goal is to make this a really successful brand,” she said. “I want to keep going with different collections that bring up new and innovative ways of looking at clothing, things that people maybe haven’t done before.”