Upcycler, Tailor, Problem-solver
Kristen McCoy has been an upcycler for 29 years, and is equal parts designer, upcycler, tailor, and problem-solver. She is of the belief that vintage is the most glamorous form of eco-friendly clothing and if something in your closet is too small, damaged, or out of date, it can be repurposed into a creative piece you’ll be proud to show.
McCoy was raised on a farm in Hoffman, Minnesota, as the youngest of three siblings. She understood the value of old clothes and hand-me-downs, using them as materials for her creative projects. When her grandmother gifted her a vintage sewing machine, she learned the basics, which allowed McCoy to explore her ideas for purses and art.
Years later, as she aspired to create clothing, she discovered that garment construction and fitting were more complex than she had expected. At the age of 19, facing a pile of unfinished projects in her closet, McCoy realized she needed either a new hobby or further training.
Minneapolis College Fashion Design Technologies program beckoned and offered her extensive hands-on training in design, manufacturing, alteration, and fitting to provide her the foundation she needed to reach for her goals. “The faculty at the College welcomed my creative spirit and the ideas I had around wearable art, something that was rare among the schools I researched,” said McCoy. “My experience at Minneapolis College drastically changed my life by providing me with the skills I needed to build my ideas into a business model that showcased my creativity.”
McCoy was impressed by the diversity of the students at Minneapolis College who came from all walks of life and ranged in age from high school PSEO undergraduates to senior citizens. “The faculty and students were smart, creative, encouraging, and collaborative,” said McCoy, who also appreciated the affordability of Minneapolis College and the access to financial aid.
After graduating from the program in 2009, McCoy moved to Washington, D.C., and began working as an inhouse seamstress at a vintage store. A short time later, she and one of her best friends from Minneapolis College, Erin Orfanon, opened Ginger Root Design, an artisan boutique that became the home of the duo’s upcycle designs and tailoring business, specializing in revamping and recycling garments. After an amazing five-year run, Erin and Kristen decided to close their doors and focus on their growing families.
McCoy moved back to Minneapolis and rebranded as RETHINK Tailoring so she could prioritize revamping old, often forgotten items, from the backs of closets to custom couture fashion. McCoy’s path, however, hasn’t always been smooth. In March of 2020, she opened the doors of a community-based sewing lounge where people could connect, learn to sew, and garner inspiration from one another. The day after they opened, the pandemic hit and McCoy was required to close the doors, and pivot. She describes it as soul crushing and though she kept her team intact for 2.5 years, reinventing it along the way, the lounge never fully reopened as she envisioned it.
When that door closed, other doors opened and life pushed her back to her upcycled designs, with McCoy participating in fashion shows, designing upcycled costumes for the James Sewell Ballet, upcycling a red-carpet gown for one of the founders of the James Beard Award winning restaurant, Owamni, and even getting to do wardrobe for Diana Ross.
McCoy has a Minneapolis studio that focuses on upcycling and private instruction at 3508 Snelling Avenue in the Mullet warehouse attached to Audrey Rose Vintage. RETHINK has a mission to keep as much clothing out of landfills as possible.
“People can shop RETHINK’s upcycled designs online at rethinktailoring.com or email info@rethinktailoring.com to set up a shopping appointment in the studio,” said McCoy. “Visitors to the website will also learn about community events and a new clothing collection site I’m setting up outside of the studio to collect unwearable garments and materials to use for upcycling.”
“Fashion is about personal expression and staying true to yourself and what makes you feel the best,” said McCoy. “Things don’t always go as planned so just keep going and when you look back, it will all make sense.”