RENEE RENEW
Up-Cycled Garments & Crafts
About Me
Hi! My name is Carol Renee
I was born and raised in the San Francisco East Bay Area, where the rich diversity of my community inspired a lifelong love for art and vibrant textiles. After retiring as a middle school teacher, I channeled my creativity into upcycling clothing, blending artistry with sustainability to give new life to forgotten fabrics.
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A Legacy of craftmanship
My passion for sewing began at a young age, inspired by my grandmothers’ skills in darning and crocheting and my mother’s handmade dresses. Their resourcefulness taught me the beauty of creating something new from what already exists.
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Honoring the Past, Creating for the Future
I believe every fabric has a story, whether it’s a vintage table linen, a beloved old shirt, or a forgotten scrap. By upcycling these materials, I give them a second life, transforming them into unique, wearable art.
My Mission
Breathing New Life into Forgotten Fabrics
Inspired by the resourcefulness of my grandmothers and the handmade garments of my childhood, I developed a deep appreciation for fabrics with history. Now, I bring that passion to life by transforming pre-loved materials into unique, sustainable fashion that tells a story.
Where Fashion, Culture, and Sustainability Meet
Some of my designs are inspired by the timeless elegance of Japanese kimono styles, which embrace fluidity, comfort, and versatility. I blend this aesthetic with upcycled fabrics, incorporating vintage linens, lace, and cherished garments to create one-of-a-kind pieces. Each stitch is a fusion of tradition and reinvention, honoring the past while crafting something entirely new.
Reimagining Fashion: Beauty with a Purpose
Every year, 100 billion garments are produced, with 87% of the materials used ending up in landfills or incinerated. The fashion industry’s wasteful cycle is unsustainable, and I believe it’s time for change.
My mission is to show that we can create beautiful, one-of-a-kind pieces without contributing to the excess. By repurposing pre-loved fabrics, I breathe new life into forgotten materials, transforming them into timeless, wearable art.
