UPCYCLING FOR SUMMER FASHION >>>

I am enthralled with the term "upcycling." No, it's not a new sport, but the idea and process of creating new items out of old ones. People have been upcycling since the beginning of time, but recently the vibe surrounding the concept has shifted from weird kid in patchwork hand-me-down pants to works of art - as in Lynn Di Nino's Coats of Many Sweaters show opening tomorrow night at Madera Architectural Elements.

Material, once again, was Lynn Di Nino's muse.

"On my trips to thrift stores I might see a lime green sweater next to a rust one and think what a stunning combination and I took it from there," Di Nino shared in an email.

Gathering supplies from thrift stores, her closet, friends and yard sales yielded stellar patterns, colors and textures for her summer sweater show tomorrow.

Her process is a simple one: select four or five sweaters that go together, give them a spin in the washing machine, take scissors to them and then reassemble into summer sweater coats with handmade piping from cotton T-shirts for highlights.

Also, humorously, socks are featured as pockets.

"I try to keep these coats reasonably priced and using socks is a lot easier than sewing a pocket," she explains.

And it's downright cozy and practical.

As a full-time artist and creator, Di Nino faces the challenge all artists face - how to make a living. Producing summer coats is a bit of a solution, she relates, "They're cheap, fast, have a wide range for creativity and I have a short attention span.  Also, they're faster than concrete, by weeks, so I can actually earn a living!"

These unique garments are $155 each, and available for purchase during tomorrow's show.

Di Nino's name is not new on Puget Sound's creative fashion tongue. She's a core member of Friends of the Rag, a wearable art group dating back to 1972.

Coat of Many Sweaters

Thursday, June 24, 6-8 p.m., no cover
Madera Architectural Elements Showroom
2210 Court A, Tacoma (close to El Gaucho)