Oxfordshire teenager launches sustainable fashion line

26th August,2020

A resourceful teenager from Oxfordshire is taking sustainable fashion to the next level with designs he creates from things, which most people would class as rubbish. Until a few months ago Sutton Courtenay resident Joey Luciano did not even know the basis of sewing. However, to combat boredom the 19-year-old learnt a new skill and created an entire wardrobe by upcycling second hand clothes.

Before the Covid-19 pandemic hit the UK in March Mr Luciano was studying Art and Design at Abingdon & Witney college. His course, however, was cut short and the teenager was not able to even complete his final major project.

Mr Luciano explained that like many others he felt ‘uninspired’ and ‘unhappy’ during lockdown. This is why he decided to learn a new skill. With only limited pattern cutting and sewing experience, he used YouTube tutorials to teach himself. The art student started making one-of-a-kind T-shirts, jogging bottoms, shorts, tote bags and bucket hats using a sewing machine that he borrowed from his grandmother. The collection of garments are all made using colourful patches from clothes Mr Luciano had already purchased from second hand shops.

Mr Luciano said he released all together nine garments on his website Lowr3s and almost all of them got sold out within the first 15 minutes. Recently the student also invested in an embroidery machine that he plans to use for any upcoming projects. Mr Luciano described the style as ‘all-round DIY’, ’90s patchworks’ and ‘quite baggy’ and added that people of all ages can wear them, rather than just teenagers.