Burda Style For people who sew

1. Where are you from and/or where do you live?
I grew up in Maryland and I live in Brooklyn, NY.

2. What was the 1st thing you made? How did you start sewing?
I started sewing when a friend received a sewing machine for the holidays. We are interested in styling and fashion and she encouraged me to jump right into using the machine. The first thing I made was a pleated shell vest from an old pair of trousers. I wanted to keep the functional design details of the pants and re-configure the garment to fit the upper body. I used the front fly in the collar and the hip-pockets as shoulder pads, and pleated the legs into front bodice panels. I used ribbed socks for a funnel collar, and a white bandana for back panel and shoulder epaulettes. I usually sew and design through two processes: inspiration and the constructive process. I was inspired by the 1960s LSD tests in the military, thinking about psychedelic soldiers. The vest developed from this concept and through deconstructing the pants and finding new possibilities for the zipper, pockets, and nearby materials.

3. What role does sewing play in your life?
Sewing is my creative outlet and financial support. I love reading construction guides and trying new techniques—I try to sew every day for my business, TakeOffYourClothes.etsty.com, and myself. I find sewing empowering because it uses very fine materials, needle and thread, to produce strong structures for covering our bodies and expressing ourselves.

4. What is your favorite and what is your least favorite thing about sewing?
My favorite thing about sewing is hand sewing. I enjoy the control, adaptability, and ingenuity that arise from basting and tacking. My least favorite thing about sewing is unpicking a seam when it is sewn incorrectly. I feel frustrated when I am repeatedly unable to sew a fabric or skip stitches, and need to take the seam apart.

5. If you could make something for anyone who would it be and what would you make?
I would love to design and sew for a Paralympic athlete. I’m very interested in adaptivewear, special needs design, and performance athleticwear. My ideal client would be an athlete with a prosthetic, and I would use stretch, moisture-wicking fabric and padding/neoprene to ensure comfort, confidence, and maximum results on the playing field.

6. What are you looking for on our site? What do you think should be improved and what do you really like?
I like Burdastyle because it encourages social networking while inspiring the sewing individual. I found BurdaStyle from a friend’s recommendation for open-source patterns. The site is very thorough with tutorials, messaging, photos, and forums. I would add an update feature to e-mail users when someone writes on their wall, messages them, or comments on their photos.

7. What is your motto?
I try to make clothing that is raw: radical, accessible, and wearable.

Bereingold‘s creations make it on to the front page frequently because they are so imaginative and freakin’ cool! ( I mean really, check this out!) make sure you check out his site/store and you can own one of these awesome pieces.