Monday, January 31, 2011

A T-Shirt Success Story: Interview with Johnny Vegas Originals


As I try to peel my eyes away from t-shirt scarves (I actually just bought the one pictured above that will pair perfectly with some silver hoops!), I reflect on the past couple weeks of my obsession and my favorite t-shirt shredding artist. To wrap up our t-shirt scarf session, Johnny from Johnny Vegas Originals shares his cotton jersey slashing journey. Who wants a chance to win a scarf from Johnny?!

Tell us a little bit about how, when and where Johnny Vegas Originals began.
i would have to say that it all began in the mid 80's. i loved tie dyeing t-shirts, and "slashing" them up. and my 80's concert t-shirts as well. then later in the 90's i lived in san francisco, and worked on haight street for many years. that's when i started fine tuning my skill in making the t-shirts actually fit better, and really flatter a woman's figure. it wasn't until 2 or 3 years ago that i added scarves to my line. that started here in utah.

From where do you draw your inspiration?
i get inspired by the jersey fabric i use, and all the different things you can do with it. it holds brilliant color, and is remarkably strong. but of course, soft! no scratchy wool!


Which product do you most enjoy making?

i go through phases. i'll make scarves for a week, until i run out of ideas, then i'll go through a shirt phase. then i'll get some new scarf ideas, and switch back to that for a while.

Which product do you receive the most feedback about?
i would say that the most popular item on my etsy shop would be the "shredded eternity scarves".


What is the best piece of clothing or jewelry to pair with a John
ny Vegas scarf?
you can wear the scarves with ANYTHING! from tank tops and jeans, to dresses and jackets. a
nd since they're cotton jersey, you can even wear them in summer. they're really versatile. in the winter i wear mine wrapped 2 or 3 times, to keep me warm. in the summer, i wear them looser, like a necklace almost. very chic.

What are your greatest hopes for Johnny Vegas Originals?
my hope for johnny vegas originals, is to be recognized as a unique, boho chic brand, and sell enough pieces to quit my day job! i love creating the endless colors and textures the fabric allows.


Enter for a chance to win THIS scarf:
1. "Like" Johnny Vegas Originals on Facebook if you don't already!
2. AND, leave a comment below.
*Accepting entries through midnight EST, Thursday, February 3*
Shredded Eternity Scarf

Saturday, January 29, 2011

Another Trashy Success: t-shirt finds home

Last week, after quickly becoming obsessed with Johnny Vegas Originals scarves, I DID in fact decide to cut up my beloved t-shirt and make a scarf...it was SIMPLE!

How'd you do it, Rachel?
I found a DIY video. I wasn't a HUGE fan of it, but it worked for what I needed. I skipped over a lot of it. If you want to make your very own t-shirt scarf, now's the time to learn.

The Journey


My beloved shirt


The rip :(


The Slice



Finished Product


My favorite detail


Double it up

T-Shirt's new home
My t-shirt found a new home. Around my neck. I showed it to my brother and said, "I made a t-shirt scarf! Isn't it cool?!" His response, "It looks like a t-shirt."


Friday, January 21, 2011

Trashy Successes: T-Shirt scarf necklaces

As I fold my two week overdue laundry, I fumble with my hole-in-the-armpit long-sleeved t-shirt that I don't think I will EVER throw away. It is from a camp I worked at for 8 summers and I LOVE it. Each time I wear it, the hole grows bigger. It doesn't keep me warm. It doesn't really do much for me. But I just like wearing it to bed.

A couple weeks ago I saw a scarf on a friend that I thought was so cool. It was made from t-shirts. We've all seen t-shirt quilts, but have you ever seen a t-shirt scarf? Or a t-shirt scarf necklace?

A few designs I like:


So now, I ask myself the question...what should I do with MY t-shirt? What do you think?




Saturday, January 8, 2011

Okay, So I Lied...

Why do you have to be such a liar?
I may have lied... just a little. Or maybe I just neglected to tell the truth.
I always tell people "I don't make new year's resolutions." The truth is, I do. I just don't tell anyone. I don't want to be held accountable. I don't want to be a failure. My new year's resolutions are usually just habits I want to make, or those I want to break. They're not huge. They're not exciting. They don't have anything to do with going to the gym or running a marathon or losing weight.

Let's start with being honest
Guess what? I failed. Miserably. On all accounts. Already. It's January 8 and I failed on January 4.

Why should I care?
I'll tell you why you should care. Because if you can name one specific thing I have failed at this week (out of all my failures, there is one specifically I am thinking of) you will win $50 worth of custom-made jewelry.

How to play
Post your response on Koukla Mou Designs' page on Facebook under the post "okay, so I lied..." within the next 24 hours (by noon on Sunday, Jan 9). The first person to guess will win. I will try to respond intermittently. You can post more than once, but please wait for a response from me before you post again.