Oxford Fashion Week Interview with Hayley Trezise of Raggedy

Hayley Trezise is a very motivated and intuitive woman who
has created a brand that embodies the ethos of slow fashion. Intrigued to find
out more about slow fashion, Hayley tells all in this interview.

What is the idea
behind all of your work?

It really started from when I wanted to dress differently as
a teenager by sewing different pieces of material together. My mum was a
seamstress, not that I ever watched her do anything, I just picked it up and I
went to Art College so really I come from an art background more than a fashion
background. My passion is also sustainability: I upcycle old garments and
reconstruct them into new sculptural pieces and I have recently integrated
organic fabrics into my designs. Every piece I make is unique and a one off, I
have stepped a little bit away from that but I am really passionate about slow
fashion rather than being this high street season thing, like you buy it and
then throw it away. So clothes I produce are not only made to last but also
made to wear any time of the year, in five or six years time, it’s timeless.

I find the concept of
sustainability very interesting as it is something I want to learn more about.
When you say ‘more sustainable’ what do you mean in terms of fashion?

I am using waste products, I don’t know the actual
statistics but it is huge. I think fashion is the third biggest industry in the
world. You can imagine if we have two seasons a year, two seasons of throwing
away left overs into the landfill which degrades into the earth. And all of the
chemicals in the clothes are being seeped up season after season after season.
So for me, taking those garments before they get thrown into landfill and
reconstruct them. If you were to go into a charity shop, you would see some
garments that are in pristine condition but people just want to be rid of them
just because of the seasons. My job, My passion is taking them out of landfill
and to reconstruct them and use the best parts of them. I cut out the parts
that are worn or have holes in and carry on using the parts that work. For me,
for my creativity, that feeds my creativity as well.

Who is your target
audience for this collection?

My slogan is ‘Dress like nobody’s judging!’ The other thing
that I am passionate about, which is equal to the sustainability, is
confidence. I am producing women’s clothes but this ethos is for men also, my
clothes are there to empower that female (Or male, if you’re a man) that we
have inside ourselves to stand up and be who we are rather than conforming to
what we ‘should’ be. There’s a message that I want to bring out within my
clothes and that is be unique to yourself, shine brightly! The people who often
like my clothes are quite daring and a little bit different and not the norm by
society’s standards. My range of women are between 35-60 and other women who
are a little bit daring who want to dress uniquely and not like everybody else.

When I heard your talk
at the blogger’s preview party, it really intrigued me. I have always heard of
sustainable and slow fashion but I have never known what it actually was. To
hear you speak and elaborate on it, I was really quite drawn in. I found all of
what you said extremely thought-provoking, it is something that I do but it is
something that I would like to do more. It is such an essential message
especially with clothing, so what if it’s not in season, you can still wear
it!  It is exceedingly imperative that we
receive that message because in this day and age, there are so many people who
don’t have clothes or food or water yet we have the audacity to throw it away
as if it couldn’t help anyone else, It is a tremendously necessary thing and I
am really glad that you are doing it. Making a change in the way we see
fashion.

Thank you, there is one thing that I’d like to end with, as
a message from what you just said. Don’t be afraid to look into your wardrobe,
grab those garments that you think you won’t wear again and see what you can do
with them, reconstruct them, cut the sleeves off, put something on it. Just be
creative because we are all creative, it just takes that little push.  

It was a pleasure interviewing Hayley and she has really
inspired me to be more active in the upcycling side of fashion. Hayley has stayed completely true to her unique and one-of-a-kind designs. Hopefully soon
on Victoryforu, you will see somethings I have upcycled or at least tried to. Also today is her Birthday, so let’s wish her a blessed birthday.

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