This fashion student reworks XL men's shirts into these bra-top sets
By Kerry Tinga
Sophia Lumbao promotes sustainable, slow fashion through these reworked pieces
As consumers become more and more aware of the environmental impact of the fashion industry, a new generation redefines what it means to be a sustainably conscious creative. Along with the rise in interest in vintage, pre-loved, second-hand, or whichever way you prefer to call it fashion consumption, some designers have taken on the challenge of breathing new life into old pieces. Mostly led by Gen-Z creators, reworked fashion pieces are a sustainable fashion trend that can save our planet.
A complete 180 fashion rework transformation that has been catching the eyes and interest of Instagram users is the bra and top set from Fifi's Vintage, all originally reworked from extra-large men's shirts. The rare Instagram drops and virtual pop-up appearances (they were last seen at The Manila Fling) often feature just a handful of pieces, meaning that copping these sustainable fashion finds is near becoming an Olympic event.
But who is Fifi?
Meet Sophia Lumbao, 19, a fashion design student at the Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD). Due to the pandemic, Sophia has had to take her classes remotely, meaning she is still in the Philippines and running Fifi's Vintage alongside doing her schoolwork. She even partnered with Project Puno to raise funds for tablets to aid the learning of students in Cagayan Valley. Talk about being a multitasking boss babe.
"I started out by reworking second-hand clothes from my grandparents who live in Canada," says Sophia in an interview with Manila Bulletin Lifestyle. "They're big hoarders and hadn't cleaned out their closet in decades up until last year. When they finally did, they sent us eight full balikbayan boxes of stuff to use and donate."
"So many of the clothes from my grandparents were huge," the fashion design student continues. "Many of the shirts were men's XL, so if I wanted to sell anything I knew I'd have to reimagine some designs. I was inspired by thrift stores I saw in Europe that had reworking stations. I thought that'd be a great way to give old clothes a second life."
The bra-top set first appeared on the Instagram profile of Fifi's Vintage earlier this year in a collection with only 10 pieces. I was not kidding when I said these drops were not just rare but also extremely limited. A lot of it has to do with the patient slow fashion process.
"For the first collection, I sewed everything myself in my bedroom. I draft patterns and cut fabric squatting on my floor and my family always laughs at me for not using a table–I find it easier to work on the floor," says Sophia. "For my second collection with The Manila Fling, I worked with another seamstress to help me get the work done. This was a huge help but it was also quite difficult explaining my process because there are so many different tricks you come up with in your mind and some parts of the process I change every time. Because I'm working with a different shirt every time, the process can vary."
Beyond just the sustainability of reworked garments, Sophia also tries to fight the idea that clothes are only for a specific (small) frame.
"I want my clothes to be accessible to everyone," she adds. "This is actually one of the reasons I love the reworked bra top sets. They're fully garterized all around the bust so they can fit a large range of sizes."
Along with the bra and top sets, Fifi's Vintage curated thrift items and made-to-order pieces. This includes Sophia's first original piece, the Paloma hat, a vintage-inspired summer hat. Like the bra and top sets, the Paloma hat is becoming extremely popular, so much so that there is a lengthy waiting list. As a made-to-order piece, the original item is in line with Sophia's sustainability policy.
"I'm so happy to see that the local, online ukay community has grown so much in the past year alone," Sophia concludes. "I think that small businesses like mine that curate second-hand clothing has changed so many peoples' minds about buying used clothes. With the rise in popularity of ultra-cheap, fast fashion brands among Filipinos, I'm glad to see that more people are choosing slow fashion."