Designer / Customer Spotlight: Drea of Hidden Opulence Design House
Quick reminder our online sale is wrapping up today. Find the deets here.
Over the years, Drea has come in to stock up on zippers of all colors and lengths, thread and other mending and alteration supplies. After the first few times I worked with her, my curiosity got the best of me, and we started talking about her work. She's worked tirelessly building up her business, Hidden Opulence Design House, offering mending, alterations, and upcycling out of SE resale shop, Artifact Creative Recycle. And soon we will be able to find her providing fittings every Friday 12-7 pm out of Mixtape Vintage on SE Belmont. Don’t worry, you can also still submit projects to Artifact everyday now that it is a Drop Off Site for HOD. Hidden Opulence also offers production work for designers. Whew, she is a busy gal! I love Drea's creativity, vision, personal style, and kind enthusiasm (and lipstick colors!). I am so excited to see what's to come for HOD and Drea. Check out her new online retail site here where you can find upcycled products for sustainable solutions! Want to hear more from Drea via The Ecopreneur podcast? Well, lucky you, you can do so via iTunes or Spotify, look for episode 7. Read on to find out more about this fabulous designer in her own words.
How did you get started in design and sewing? And, when did the focus on upcycling and mending come into the picture for you?
I got started in sewing at the age of 5 after watching an episode from reading rainbow, they featured a book called The Patchwork Quilt by Valerie Flournoy. From that point. I made my own hand sewn "quilt" complete with tape to ends of my seams 😂. I quickly took to spending much time in my neighbor Cecelia's garage watching her work on everything from halloween costumes to basic mends.
Though these were the first sources of inspiration, upcycling and mending were always in the picture for me growing up. My parents both came from large families and it was very normal for my mother to reuse old t shirts and cloth diapers for cleaning and my father to spend sunday afternoons demonstrating clothing upkeep to me. My mother would share stories of my abuela making all her sisters clothes for school out of flour sacks. My father was raised early on by a single mother so he learned all domestic duties and perfected them during his career in the military. The result was showing me how to purchase second hand, execute basic mends, and shine and oil leathers to extend the life of shoes and other accessories. All of this exposure planted the seed early in me and it didn't begin to blossom until I began using sewing as a creative outlet in junior high and becoming environmentally conscious in high school.
You also offer production sewing. Can you give us a glimpse into what is involved with that? Do you help designers design, or do they come to you with that aspect fully completed? What do you enjoy about production sewing?
Yes! I love production work because of it's meditative aspect. I'm also perfectionist at heart and production really exercises that part of me. You can repeat the same process til you gain quality and efficiency! Oh yeah baby! It's honestly the best feeling!! Also I love connecting with designers that are expanding the definition of what eco friendly clothing can look like and are using their work to change the way we see gender. Hidden Opulence used to offer full production front to back, but due to our high demand for alterations, we currently only offer sample production (with pattern provided) or sewing only production. We hope to be able to offer cut and sew services in the future.
Which designers are feeding your imagination these days?
These two designers which we featured on the HOD feed last week have really been insipiring me: Fredrik Tjaerandsen created these inflatable dresses, that were a mix of childhood balloon animal joy and futuristic fantasy. My intern turned me onto Nicole Mclaughlin who makes mostly one off textile sculptures. I love the idea of mixing and matching nostalgia with new age and playing with ideas of scale. It helps me to find inspiration in more than just nature, but abstracting from happy memories too.
What fabrics or styles are you into right now?
When the season turns cold and the days turn dark, I think I reach for brighter colors and textures whenever I can. I will admit, some days the darkness gets to me and I suddenly am wearing all neutrals. I definitely love being the brightest in colors in the room, and it makes me even happier when my hot pink or neon green can make someone else smile. The styles I gravitate towards are never consistent in era, but I have been trying to be more conscious of buying more natural fibers second hand- it's hard to resist wacky textures in outwear.
Often times when we do something for a living, we don't do it for ourselves. Is this the case for you or do you sew for yourself? If so, (or If sew...) what are you working on? Have any sewing goals for the year ahead?
I've really taken this into account because I never used to sew for myself and also had a mend pile larger than most! This summer I began entering some of my own items into my workflow. I try to do a minimum of 1 item a week and been more honest with myself about what Items I really won't tackle to pass on to someone else. I have made a goal that I'd like to make 3 garments for myself in the coming year! It's a small goal, but I really want to spent me-time making items I'd really like to have.
What's your favorite season and why?
It tough to answer this one! As a sun worshiper I do love the summer times because everyone shows out! It makes me feel like I'm back in SoCal when everyone is flexing their fashions in the summer sun. I also love transitional seasons, like Fall because I like to see what everyone is wearing. I love seeing interesting coats and all the tights come out. I get inspired by other people's layering techniques. They are both seasons where you can think about fashion and not how freezing cold you are before you build an outfit.
Where would we find you when not at work?
If someone has managed to convince me away from working after hours, (Yes, it's a bit of an issue right now) I'll likely be hanging with friends, looking to attend an art exhibit with a pal, or exploring a local oddity or museum of the past with my honey. We're historical junkies.
Favorite place for a weekend out of town?
I love spending time discovering the Oregon Coast or spending the day in small towns in the gorge.
Latest fave restaurant? or Favorite meal of the day?
Dinner is probably my favorite! I love Paadee on SE 28th & Burnside. I like my food packed full of flavor, tastes like it's made with heart and served family style. I've tried a majority of the cocktail menu and you can't go wrong with anything you order there!
Thanks Drea for taking the time! We look forward to seeing what’s next!!