In my sophomore year of college, I became more aware of clothing sustainability, fast fashion, and consumerism. I was utterly disgusted with the amount of clothing waste that was in the Tallahassee, Florida area. While Florida State University provides a great education to students, many still lack the knowledge necessary to make sustainable shopping decisions. Fast-fashion companies like Zara, Shein, and so many others run rampant through our college town.

Wanting to take action, I decided to combine three of my passions and turn them into a small business. I have been a part of the rave community for the past five years, and I have always loved festival fashion. My mother taught me to sew from a young age, and I often hemmed garments and found joy in expressing my creativity through sewing. Once I began thrifting and shopping second-hand, I developed a newfound appreciation for shopping sustainably.

And behold, my project MADE2RAV3 was born. As seen in the cover image, I thrift unique garments from the Goodwill bins that are destined for the landfill, cut them up, and redesign them into one-of-a-kind pieces of clothing perfect for raves and festivals. Being able to express myself through my creations has not only helped reduce clothing waste, but has also given me a job that I truly love and feel passionate about.