Vivian Nwigwe, thee Sustainable Fashion Designer

There are many different paths fashion designers can take to build a sustainable business. Vivian “Yen” Nwigwe chose to go the route of upcycling and garment redesign for her namesake brand YENCHIVES. The New Jersey-based designer creates one of one handcrafted pieces made from ethically and sustainably sourced material.

I had the pleasure of interviewing the young and passionate designer about making upcycling size inclusive, the importance of titles, and how you can start redesigning for yourself!

Let's get into the visionary of the brand first. Who is Vivian Nwigwe and why did she start YENCHIVES?

“Vivian (Yen) is a self-taught, NJ-based designer. I am an advocate for conscious fashion and passionate about sustainable developments and initiatives. I started YEN as an initiative to help encourage zero-waste and slow fashion by repurposing old fabrics into new and unique designs. With my brand YEN we take a fully sustainable/eco-friendly approach from garments to packaging. I am currently a full-time creative (soon to be a full-time student again).

My passions include upcycling, garment redesign, styling, photography, and content creation, all of which I exercise through YEN. I have always had a passion for fashion, my earliest memories include cutting up old socks and other miscellaneous fabrics to make clothes for my stuffed animals and dolls and having little fashion shows with them, so through YEN I’m pleasing my inner child.”

The recent push for sustainable practices to be the norm in fashion has been fierce and persistent. But you've had a sustainability strategy set from the onset of YENCHIVES. How did you get into upcycling? And what makes it your favored approach to sustainable fashion?

“Upcycling and garment redesign is my favored approach to sustainable fashion because allows me to get creative and have fun with it. I also thoroughly enjoy practicing sustainable fashion by thrifting most of my clothing pieces and mending things in my wardrobe when possible. I got into upcycling early on by doing things as simple as cropping t-shirts into cropped tees and cutting jeans into shorts.”

Each of your pieces is unique and beautifully executed. How do you go about sourcing fabrics and garments? Is there anything, in particular, you look for?

“I’ve been an avid thrifter since high school and I pride myself on being able to find hidden gems in the thrift store. I used to thrift solely for nice ready-to-wear pieces but since starting YEN, I have developed a completely different mindset when I’m in secondhand shops. When sourcing fabrics and materials for garments I like to look through EVERYTHING: the men’s section, women’s, kids, blankets, curtains, anything that could be repurposed!

I look for unique prints and colors, I like to see the way fabrics feel, analyze their stretch factors, lay things out on the floor, and ultimately envision what they have the potential to become. My first collection (Calico Collection) was made out of 4 very unique faux fur curtains, I had the pleasure of stumbling upon at my local thrift. All material is ethically and sustainably sourced second-hand and sanitized thoroughly before use.”

I've noticed that you make sure to introduce yourself as a sustainable fashion designer. Why is it important to you that you be known as a sustainable fashion designer?

“My sustainable fashion brand YEN is an extension of me and my name (Vivian.. Vivi-YEN). When I introduce myself, I am introducing my brand. I make sure to introduce myself as a sustainable fashion designer because I like to be recognized for my craft and niche in order to be able to network and plug myself into creative spaces whenever possible.”

Congratulations on your acceptance into the Masters of Science in Digital Marketing program at Rutgers! How has your field of study helped you found and promote YENCHIVES? Do you plan to use your qualifications outside of the fashion industry?

“Thank you! My field of study has helped me build and promote the YEN brand through social media marketing efforts. I’ve learned to establish my brand’s unique online aesthetic and voice, and by remaining active online that I was able to improve YEN’s digital reach and target many new potential customers, clients, and sustainable fashion enthusiasts.

Content is key in the world of digital marketing as it is often the foundation of today’s digital marketing efforts. My field of study has helped me to improve my ability to create content for my brand. I am a dynamic, data-driven digital creator, and my ultimate career goal is to be able to officially establish myself as a thought leader within the industry and offer my creative services via many channels and outlets through freelance or consulting. My hope is that this program can fully submerge me into the digital marketing field, giving me the knowledge and skills to succeed in this industry. I would love to be able to use my qualification in the fashion industry!”

Upcycling has been increasing in popularity due to economic restraints and a rise in sustainable ethics. Accessibility concerns have justly been raised when it comes to upcycling. How do you go about making upcycling more size-inclusive?

“A lot of my current pieces are made from a 4-way stretch and are one-size, with varying degrees of stretch. I do my best to display my pieces on different-sized models to demonstrate the stretch fit. I have recently started taking measures to improve my size inclusivity by sourcing an array of sizes for my current project: reworked cargo skirts. For this project, I will have models ranging from XS to plus size.”

Do you have any suggestions for folks who are looking to start making adjustments to their garments or upcycling to expand their personal closet?

“My suggestion for anyone looking to start upcycling or reworking garments to expand their personal closet is to start with their personal closet! I feel like we all have periods where we go through our closets to rid them of pieces that are no longer our style or size. First and foremost: never throw anything away, even tattered clothing can be repurposed as rags.

Donate locally to reputable second-hand shops and shelters. When upcycling, don't think too hard. Make it a fun personal project! You don't need to know how to sew or have fancy equipment to rework/upcycle a garment. Jeans that no longer fit in length can be cut into shorts for warm seasons. You can use acrylic paints on your canvas sneakers to jazz them up. The ideas are endless. Just get creative!”

It's always good to look to the future while appreciating the present! Where do you see YENCHIVES in five years?

“In 5 years, I hope for growth within YEN. I hope to see my designs picked up by stylists and high-profile influencers within the fashion space. I hope to create more out-of-the-box designs in the future and work with more challenging materials and fabrics to really challenge myself.”

Make sure to keep up-to-date on everything YENCHIVES. Vivian hinted at a fun end-of-summer drop being in the works!