always had a supportive network in her family and friends.
“ So I learned from my great-grandmother, and what caught my eye the most was the design of the quilts and clothing that she would put together. She never used a pattern or anything. I’ m so grateful for all the years that I spent with her. I come from a long line of talented, gifted women,” she said. Even her maternal grandmother who lived in another state was a seamstress.
“ Fast forward to when I was in junior high school, I started sewing my own clothes for school, because at that time it was less expensive to make your own than to buy. My mother had six of us kids, so she had to save wherever she could. It was really funny because my girlfriends in junior high all loved my clothes and so I sewed for them as well. I remember in the 60s, wearing bell-bottoms when they were really popular, and if I had straight leg pants, I would just cut open the sides and put fabric in them.”
Kirkpatrick believes she was ahead of her time in those days.
“ It just blossomed from there. I’ ve always loved sewing.”
Inspiration also comes from other women who are creating similar fashions. Every designer has their own unique style and she watches YouTube shows, specifically Magnolia Pearl in Fredericksburg, Texas, and, TMyers Handmade( Traci). Kirkpatrick wondered if her fashions would appeal to anyone in this area.
“ We’ re not in Oklahoma City where there’ s a lot of people and exposure, but it’ s been wonderful.”
Cost factor was another concern when introducing her wearable art fashions to this area.
“ The price point of the upcycle clothes, a lot of people don’ t understand. If they don’ t sew, the time and the investment, plus going and searching for these things and the laundering of them, ironing them, the cutting out the pieces, putting it all together.”
She grew up in a time when, for generations, people did not throw things away. They made do and as for clothing, patched things up and wore them out. She describes today’ s world as a throw-away society and“ fast fashion” that doesn’ t last. Kirkpatrick and others like her are doing their small part to keep what they can out of the landfill by creating new, fun wear out of old pieces or used outfits.
More importantly for Kirkpatrick, she wants women to know the clothing in her booth is meant to make women feel comfortable.
“ I have some really good customers that come in here and shop. Anywhere from teenage girls to, you know, I’ m in my 70s, and a lot of the ladies that buy from me are at that age and younger.
“ You know, it’ s sad, because when the ladies come in, and they’ re saying, you don’ t have my size, and I tell them, don’ t get hung up on size. Concentrate on the fit, because that’ s what’ s going to make the difference. These numbers, every manufacturer has their own number, and it’ s so confusing.”
Many women worry how they might look wearing something so different, she said, but those who gravitate toward her designs discover how much fun it can be to wear something without judgment.
“ I tell them to concentrate on the fit, and how you look and feel. There’ s nothing more rewarding than watching them put on something and come out with it on and see their faces light up.”