Top drawer

Re-use, recycle, re-vamp completely

“I made my first and only pair of five-pocket pants out of brown fur,” local designer Moe Donnelly of SewMoe says of an early experiment. “I never wore them because they were impossible to walk in, but I realized I could do it.”

These days, Donnelly’s reconstructed fashions are available at HoneyPot (86 N. Lexington Ave., 225-0304) or through her Web site, sewmoe.com. “Most of my materials come from thrift stores,” she reveals. “Lately I’ve had really good luck with the free box at work. Usually I take anything that looks usable—even if it’s just for the collar or buttons. My sewing room is a wreck!” From the wreckage comes cute, unique pieces like an androgynous striped tee with a feminine lace inset, a slip surprisingly embellished with buttons or a plaid pocket stitched onto a V-neck sweater.

“I’m usually inspired immediately by something in particular, like the neckline on a horribly frumpy dress,” Donnelly explains. “In the process of cutting and layering, the pieces usually start to create themselves … I’ve definitely been trying to raise the bar on what I expect from my designs.”

In addition to her women’s wear, the designer is adding a men’s collection. So far, the guys’ pieces are limited to embellished dress shirts and sweaters, but watch for more from the experimental line. 

Donnelly is reluctant to label her clothing, pointing out that it’s based largely on her own aesthetic. “Everything I make, I would wear if it were the right size for me,” she says. “I guess that’s how I judge when I’m finished with a piece: If I would wear it, it’s done.”

— Photos by Megan Stone