Jillian Owens is the creative mastermind of Refashionista.net, where, for the past five years, she has showcased refashioned thrift store finds. Using her ingenuity (and with a little help from her seam ripper and sewing machine) Jillian transforms outdated and unwanted used clothing into chic pieces that you’d never guess came from a thrift store.

“A few years ago,” Jillian writes, “I decided I wanted to change the way the world thinks about fashion. I was sickened by the rise of fast fashion giants who rely on unethical labor practices. I was worried about the impact on our planet as people tossed out their one-time-wear duds more and more quickly to make room for the newer & cheaper clothing…One day, while digging through the racks at my local thrift store, I started thinking about how easily some of the ugly pieces I was looking at could be transformed into something new. I could dress well on the cheap without hurting the environment, I didn’t have to support unfair labor practices, and I could have a fun new hobby!”

We love her attitude; clothing has become cheaper and more plentiful than at any other time in the history of mankind. More and more it is being treated as a disposable, rather than durable good. We love that Jillian is challenging that way of thinking. One refashion at a time, she is showing us all that even the ugliest, gaudiest, and most dated items of unwanted used clothing has potential.

This dress, for example:

Without seeing the photo on the left, you’d never guess that the photo on the right was once so dated! Pretty incredible, right?

And then of course there’s this one:

Amazing.

Even more amazing is that you, too, can do what Jillian does! When it comes down to it, it’s really not that difficult. You just have to start. If you don’t have any sewing experience and are unsure of where to being, here are some tips from The original Refashionista herself:

Congratulations, you soon-to-be-refashioner, you! You’ve discovered a way to have a wonderful custom-fitted wardrobe that’s ethical, environmentally responsible, inexpensive and completely your own. Here are a few tips to help you enjoy crafting your unique style.

1. Go with something cheap. The cheaper the garment, the less you’ll worry about messing it up. You can even shop your own closet for those pieces you bought but don’t know why (I’m looking at you, empire waisted bubble dress!).

2. Go with something ugly. Grab that 80’s shoulder padded granny dress and go to town. Turn that awful fuchsia bridesmaid dress into a fun cocktail number. At the very least, you’ll know you’re making something better.

3. Go bigger/longer than your size. It’s way easier to work with something that’s at least a little bigger than your size. This is because it’s much easier to take fabric away than it is to add it on. Plus, you can use that extra material to make fun embellishments, like ruffles or sashes.

4. Have FUN! Refashioning shouldn’t be a stressful ordeal. Just relax and play.

At this point, you’re probably thinking that Jillian’s is “The Most Refreshing Face in Fashion”. It’s not. Although Jillian is certainly one of the most refreshing faces in fashion, in our opinion, the most refreshing face in fashion is…yours! You, like Jillian, can refashion thrifted clothes (or, as she suggested above, start with clothes from your own closet!) and bring worth back to the unwanted. Thrift stores are replete with discarded clothing items waiting to be re-imagined.

Are you up for the challenge? We’d love to see what you come up with!

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About Us

EcoGoodz is a wholesale used clothing supplier in the USA. We have many different types of used clothing and textiles including credential clothing, mixed rags, bulk linens, used shoes, as well as soft toys and hard toys. We work closely with thrift stores and charitable institutions across the country to help ensure that your donated clothing stays out of landfills.