Introducing Daniella Dawkins, Master Upcycler, Content Creator,Vibe Starter and Mum behind Instagram page @isitdanidawks
Why did you start upcycling?
So I started upcycling because I wanted to wear what I liked. When I was in college in the 90s, everyone was wearing the same kind of style and I was very into 80s fashion so I would cut the hoods off jumpers or cut off sleeves to wear them as leg warmers. Look,I was obsessed with Flashdance. So, because I was studying performing arts I really thought I was that girl, you know, the one that's in the chair and the water falls on her. And here we are now.
Why is upcycling important to you?
Upcycling is important to me,because there is a mass of textiles in the world and I want to do what I can to reduce it. But as much as sustainability matters to me now, how I got into upcycling wasn’t intentional. I didn't realise what I was doing at the time was going to have an impact. I thought I was being different and unique. I feltlike the clothes I could buy were too boring. I love being unique. I love unique things. For some people, upcycling clothes is a personal journey of self.
What gives you the the confidence to be YOU?
It has been and still is a journey.And it isn't one that I accepted from the beginning. I have customised things like jackets and jumpers with the word EXTRA because I am Extra. One of my taglines is “SEW FLIPPING EXTRA” (a play on flipping/changing an extra item)but when I was younger, extra was put on me as a negative thing, to the point where I shied away from it. I would walk into a room and have to play myself down thinking I don’t want to look too extra. I don't want to look like I'm doing too much. My dad passed on a little over six years now and that was a changing point. If my dad was at a party or an event, everyone knew he was there. He was in the middle of the floor dancing. If no one else was dancing,he was dancing. He didn't care. I am extra, just like my dad. I'm no longer holding back and I'm not saying sorry for who I am because I love this part of me. When my kids are doing the most extra stuff, I look at them like “YOU’RE AMAZING”. Like, be that and even more, hopefully inspiring someone else to be more themselves too.
What's your favourite upcycle creation?
I have to have two! The first one has to be “the IKEA one”. And the reason that one is my favourite is because for me when I did that upcycle I felt like it really elevated me, it let people see what I was doing and know that I was a little bit different and that I wasn't here to play. It made me challenge myself, the next one has to be even better. I don't just want to use clothes anymore. I started thinking more outside the box.
The second is “the curtain one”because of the way it looks and how much I enjoyed doing the reveal video. I made a corset, high waisted shorts, a bag and a scrunchie. I feel like all round the outfit just screamed “ME”.
What advice would you give to someone who wants to start upcycling their clothes?
My advice would just be just experiment with cutting stuff up. You don’t need to sew or stitch, simply get a shirt and cut the bottom off it - you've upcycled it, you've made it into something new. Cut your jeans into shorts and rough them up - pick the threads out so that they fray a bit you're banging! Do invest in some good fabric scissors if you can.
I would urge you to try fabric glue until you're ready to sew. Fabric glue is your friend!. When I first started, I used to customise denim jackets. You can do something as simple as glue studs to the shoulders but I would also buy fun, cartoony fabrics and then glue them on.
Look for inspiration in places like Instagram, TikTok and Pinterest.
How did you help the homeless at Christmas?
Oh, that was so much fun! I collaborated with Sophia from Fine-Tuned Wardrobe to give the homeless mittens and scarves. Sophia audits and clears out people's wardrobes. She will sell her clients clothes for them or repurpose them by giving them to charity. She sent me a package of jumpers, jeans and dresses that I upcycled. It was great to know we kept a few extra people a little warmer in over Christmas. I if I had enough time and energy, I would have done more.
Why is #shinenotshame, campaign important to you?
I have only recently started admitting that I have hoarding tendencies which can impact my ability to focus on work. Hoarding is a mental illness that no one really speaks about. On one of my lives, I mentioned it and a professional organiser said it can be particularly tough for creatives, especially someone like me, because everything I can reuse. I think it is great when people feel comfortable enough to be honest so that they can get the help and support they need.
What service you offer your clients?
I offer an upcycling, alteration and made to measure services as well as content curation and video editing advice for brands. The videos I do are so important to me and drive me to make better creations as I am always thinking ahead to the reveal! A recent client brought me a sari which I made into a dress for her to wear to her mum's funeral. My favourite work is when my creativity gets to shine through.
What’s coming up for @isitdanidawksthis year?
I want to continue to highlight that upcycling can be fun. stylish and exciting. This year I really want my platform to become a base of knowledge. I want to bring awareness to the fact that our planet is dying, we are the cause of that, but we can also be the solution. I want to work more with textiles to show that we can upcycle more than just clothing to design fashion, extra or not, and look great. I have lots of exciting projects in the pipeline and can’t wait to show you them at the Clean & Tidy Home Show!
Find out more about Dani here
If you want to meet Dani and see her creations in real life, buy a ticket for the show here
Introducing Daniella Dawkins, Master Upcycler, Content Creator,Vibe Starter and Mum behind Instagram page @isitdanidawks
Why did you start upcycling?
So I started upcycling because I wanted to wear what I liked. When I was in college in the 90s, everyone was wearing the same kind of style and I was very into 80s fashion so I would cut the hoods off jumpers or cut off sleeves to wear them as leg warmers. Look,I was obsessed with Flashdance. So, because I was studying performing arts I really thought I was that girl, you know, the one that's in the chair and the water falls on her. And here we are now.
Why is upcycling important to you?
Upcycling is important to me,because there is a mass of textiles in the world and I want to do what I can to reduce it. But as much as sustainability matters to me now, how I got into upcycling wasn’t intentional. I didn't realise what I was doing at the time was going to have an impact. I thought I was being different and unique. I feltlike the clothes I could buy were too boring. I love being unique. I love unique things. For some people, upcycling clothes is a personal journey of self.
What gives you the the confidence to be YOU?
It has been and still is a journey.And it isn't one that I accepted from the beginning. I have customised things like jackets and jumpers with the word EXTRA because I am Extra. One of my taglines is “SEW FLIPPING EXTRA” (a play on flipping/changing an extra item)but when I was younger, extra was put on me as a negative thing, to the point where I shied away from it. I would walk into a room and have to play myself down thinking I don’t want to look too extra. I don't want to look like I'm doing too much. My dad passed on a little over six years now and that was a changing point. If my dad was at a party or an event, everyone knew he was there. He was in the middle of the floor dancing. If no one else was dancing,he was dancing. He didn't care. I am extra, just like my dad. I'm no longer holding back and I'm not saying sorry for who I am because I love this part of me. When my kids are doing the most extra stuff, I look at them like “YOU’RE AMAZING”. Like, be that and even more, hopefully inspiring someone else to be more themselves too.
What's your favourite upcycle creation?
I have to have two! The first one has to be “the IKEA one”. And the reason that one is my favourite is because for me when I did that upcycle I felt like it really elevated me, it let people see what I was doing and know that I was a little bit different and that I wasn't here to play. It made me challenge myself, the next one has to be even better. I don't just want to use clothes anymore. I started thinking more outside the box.
The second is “the curtain one”because of the way it looks and how much I enjoyed doing the reveal video. I made a corset, high waisted shorts, a bag and a scrunchie. I feel like all round the outfit just screamed “ME”.
What advice would you give to someone who wants to start upcycling their clothes?
My advice would just be just experiment with cutting stuff up. You don’t need to sew or stitch, simply get a shirt and cut the bottom off it - you've upcycled it, you've made it into something new. Cut your jeans into shorts and rough them up - pick the threads out so that they fray a bit you're banging! Do invest in some good fabric scissors if you can.
I would urge you to try fabric glue until you're ready to sew. Fabric glue is your friend!. When I first started, I used to customise denim jackets. You can do something as simple as glue studs to the shoulders but I would also buy fun, cartoony fabrics and then glue them on.
Look for inspiration in places like Instagram, TikTok and Pinterest.
How did you help the homeless at Christmas?
Oh, that was so much fun! I collaborated with Sophia from Fine-Tuned Wardrobe to give the homeless mittens and scarves. Sophia audits and clears out people's wardrobes. She will sell her clients clothes for them or repurpose them by giving them to charity. She sent me a package of jumpers, jeans and dresses that I upcycled. It was great to know we kept a few extra people a little warmer in over Christmas. I if I had enough time and energy, I would have done more.
Why is #shinenotshame, campaign important to you?
I have only recently started admitting that I have hoarding tendencies which can impact my ability to focus on work. Hoarding is a mental illness that no one really speaks about. On one of my lives, I mentioned it and a professional organiser said it can be particularly tough for creatives, especially someone like me, because everything I can reuse. I think it is great when people feel comfortable enough to be honest so that they can get the help and support they need.
What service you offer your clients?
I offer an upcycling, alteration and made to measure services as well as content curation and video editing advice for brands. The videos I do are so important to me and drive me to make better creations as I am always thinking ahead to the reveal! A recent client brought me a sari which I made into a dress for her to wear to her mum's funeral. My favourite work is when my creativity gets to shine through.
What’s coming up for @isitdanidawksthis year?
I want to continue to highlight that upcycling can be fun. stylish and exciting. This year I really want my platform to become a base of knowledge. I want to bring awareness to the fact that our planet is dying, we are the cause of that, but we can also be the solution. I want to work more with textiles to show that we can upcycle more than just clothing to design fashion, extra or not, and look great. I have lots of exciting projects in the pipeline and can’t wait to show you them at the Clean & Tidy Home Show!
Find out more about Dani here
If you want to meet Dani and see her creations in real life, buy a ticket for the show here
