This class is for students that want to alter existing clothing into new styling for continued wear.

Students will bring in 2-3 garments or other textiles for assessment and brainstorming. Instruction is customized to each student’s skill level and may include some local thrift shopping for additional elements.

Upcycling Examples

mens shirts into a dress
tablecloth into a jacket
towels into bags
straight leg jeans into flares

Instructor Julie Ann Brown
has been teaching Fashion Illustration and Design at The Sewing Room in Alameda since 2019.

Since earning her BFA in Fashion Design at Otis, she worked in Southern California for two decades designing swimwear for labels such as Girlstar, bebe, Lucky Brand, Betsey Johnson, ále by Alessandra Ambrosio, Soluna and Isabella Rose. Her designs have been featured in Vogue, GQ, Elle, Harper's Bazaar, and Sports Illustrated.

She has been a freelance artist and illustrator since 1994. See more of her work on: juliebrowncreative.com