My name is Jackie Schmidt and from Los Angeles, California and enjoy making clothes from sustainable materials. Most of my work is sustainable, I go from using recycled muslin to plastic bags to create new designs and techniques. Color also plays a huge role in my making as it helps me express my ideas and makes me happy. It makes me want to create more, and also by using different materials it challenges me to think outside the box and pushes me as a designer.
Recycled Origami Turmeric Dress, 2022, Recycled Muslin, Cotton, Horse Hair, 36x25 in photo by Christina G
Dress is made by using an origami lotus flower technique, I cut the flowers in half and sewed them into panels to create a skirt and top with different size variations. It is hand dyed with turmeric and coffee with no added chemicals, so the color will fade overtime.
An Unexpected Spring (Recycled Origami Turmeric Dress) Close Up 1, 2022, Recycled Muslin, Cotton, Horse Hair, 36x 25 in photo by Jackie Schmidt
Beaded by hand with various beads and plastic bottles.
Turmeric Close Up 2, 2022, Recycled Muslin, Cotton, Horse Hair, 36x 25 in photo by Jackie Schmidt
Recycled Origami Turmeric Dress Standing, 2022, Recycled Muslin, Cotton, Horse Hair, 36x 25 in photo by Christina G
An Unexpected Spring Pump, 2022, Goatskin, Wood, Air Dry Clay 12x8x4 in, photo by Jackie Schmidt
Made by hand, the wood was sculpted and carved to fit the shoe and covered in goatskin.
An Unexpected Spring Collection Part 1, 2022, Markers, Paper 10 x 20
An Unexpected Spring Collection Part 2, 2022, Markers, Paper 10x 20
Plastic Dress, 2021, Plastic Bags, Various Yarn, photo by Brandon Campbell
I created this garment by braiding hundreds of plastic bags with yarn, which were then macrame together to create my own textile.
Red Flying Fish Shoe, 2022, Goatskin, Air Dry Clay, 10x8x4 photo by Jackie Schmidt
An Unexpected Spring Collection
This piece is called an unexpected spring and is about how a person changes when they lose people they love. For me the memories of those people that I have loved, are valuable, they gave warmth and comfort, and truly made me happy. They were my yellow. But as time has continued, I have had to change without them. I have reborn myself countless times, just like how this garment is made by an origami lotus flower technique, as well as how lotus flowers represent change and transformation. As time goes on, I am starting to forget. I am forgetting the sound of their voice, the conversations we had, even how they made me feel. The fabric is dyed naturally and made from turmeric and coffee, and it will slowly fade over time, just like those memories I have attempted to hold onto. I have realized I can’t hold on forever and I have to keep changing and leave them behind. But I hope one day a new yellow will come into my life, but it never will be the same, and I guess that’s okay.