Image of model Kamryn Howard wearing an exhibiting piece. Photo by Parsons.
In Our Hands:
upcycling and accessibility
a group show featuring 5 upcycling designers, artists and healers
on view October 6 - December 9, 2023
Please join us in celebrating the closing of the exhibition on
Saturday, December 9, 5-8 pm
Our closing night market will feature individually hand-crafted and upcycled pieces by each of our exhibiting designers.
Additionally, we will host locally-based, BIPOC artisans and brands specializing in a myriad of unique and creative products specifically catered toward the show's themes of accessibility, sustainability and wellness.
Come celebrate the closing of this wonderful exhibition with us and find extraordinary gifts for you or loved ones in preparation for the holidays --- all while supporting our community's artists and artisans.
Food and refreshments will also be available for purchase, with a live DJ set playing throughout the evening.
Saturday, December 9, 5-8 pm
Our closing night market will feature individually hand-crafted and upcycled pieces by each of our exhibiting designers.
Additionally, we will host locally-based, BIPOC artisans and brands specializing in a myriad of unique and creative products specifically catered toward the show's themes of accessibility, sustainability and wellness.
Come celebrate the closing of this wonderful exhibition with us and find extraordinary gifts for you or loved ones in preparation for the holidays --- all while supporting our community's artists and artisans.
Food and refreshments will also be available for purchase, with a live DJ set playing throughout the evening.
A group exhibition featuring five LA-based, BIPOC upcycling designers: Todd Alexander, Rachel (Elle) Litiatco, Vyvy Pham, Daisy Santos and Adrienne Wade.
This clothing exhibition at Sovern LA’s gallery space highlights five designers’ conscious efforts toward sustainability through the creative process of making the old new, while pushing viewers to reimagine their relationships to and intentionality with their own clothing.
With techniques ranging from patchwork to ice dye, embroidery and more, each designer offers a unique relationship with and insight into their practice, centering art and fashion around pillars of healing, empowerment and accessibility.
Related Public Programs:
Opening Reception
Friday, October 6, 2023 | 7 pm - 10 pm
Doors open | 7:00 pm
Artist talk moderated by Olivia Sawai | 7:30 pm - 8:30 pm
Celebration featuring DJ The Plush One | 8:30 pm - 10 pm
Upcycling Ice Dye Workshop
Saturday, November 4, 2023 | 12 pm - 2 pm
Learn how to transform old garments into vibrant, one-of-a-kind pieces of art with exhibiting artist, Todd Alexander. Discover the magic of ice dyeing techniques, unleash your creativity and breathe new life into your wardrobe, contributing to a more sustainable future.
Night Market
Saturday, December 9, 2023 | 7 pm - 10 pm
The show will culminate in a night market on Saturday, December 9, which will feature local artisans from our community in addition to exhibiting designers’ work, as well as a DJ, food and drinks.
This clothing exhibition at Sovern LA’s gallery space highlights five designers’ conscious efforts toward sustainability through the creative process of making the old new, while pushing viewers to reimagine their relationships to and intentionality with their own clothing.
With techniques ranging from patchwork to ice dye, embroidery and more, each designer offers a unique relationship with and insight into their practice, centering art and fashion around pillars of healing, empowerment and accessibility.
Related Public Programs:
Opening Reception
Friday, October 6, 2023 | 7 pm - 10 pm
Doors open | 7:00 pm
Artist talk moderated by Olivia Sawai | 7:30 pm - 8:30 pm
Celebration featuring DJ The Plush One | 8:30 pm - 10 pm
Upcycling Ice Dye Workshop
Saturday, November 4, 2023 | 12 pm - 2 pm
Learn how to transform old garments into vibrant, one-of-a-kind pieces of art with exhibiting artist, Todd Alexander. Discover the magic of ice dyeing techniques, unleash your creativity and breathe new life into your wardrobe, contributing to a more sustainable future.
Night Market
Saturday, December 9, 2023 | 7 pm - 10 pm
The show will culminate in a night market on Saturday, December 9, which will feature local artisans from our community in addition to exhibiting designers’ work, as well as a DJ, food and drinks.
Photos by Parsons
Featured Artists
Image of artist Todd Alexander with one of his ice-dyed pieces.
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Todd Alexander
Originally from New Jersey, mixed media artist Todd Alexander now calls Los Angeles home. His love for dyeing started as a therapeutic outlet and has evolved into a passion for creating one-of-a-kind works of art. He specializes in using unique dyeing techniques and patterns to transform once forgotten fabrics into pieces that evoke emotion and inspire connection. His work serves as a reminder that art can inspire change, pushing us to reevaluate our consumption of fashion by cherishing the potential of each thread. |
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Rachel (Elle) Litiatco
Elle is a Filipino American Designer and Founder of ELLERALI, a fashion brand with a mission to Recreate The Created by upcycling fabric to reduce textile waste. With a degree in Marine Biology, Elle grew a deep connection with the ocean and the environment and how our daily actions affect it. The Fashion Industry is a leading contributor to pollution in our environment where the average person throws out at least 80 lbs of textile waste a year in the United States. Elle wants to show that fashion can be comfortable, functional and environmentally responsible. Upcycling never looked so Fly. |
Image of artist Rachel (Elle) Litiatco smiling at the camera.
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Image of artist Vyvy Pham.
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Vyvy Pham
Vyvy is a sustainable designer specializing in hand embroidery. Growing up in a traditional Vietnamese family as a daughter of a used-to-be tailor, Vyvy has sewing skills inherited from her mom. She realized that hand embroidery technique, a specific long-standing culture of Vietnam, is falling into oblivion, being replaced with modern embroidery machines. Vyvy desires to maintain this beautiful culture of her country with her skillful hands by using needles as brushes and flosses as paints to create sustainable masterpieces of needlework on unwanted/unused textiles. |
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Daisy Santos
“Growing up in a family that struggled with financial difficulties, we couldn’t afford buying new clothes as freely. Fortunately, being raised in a Mexican household where there were many hand-me-downs, I loved going through every piece of garment, trying them on and imagining that I was having a fashion show. As an adult, I want to give my inner child the freedom to unleash her authentic creative self to create and showcase my upcycling pieces. I would love to empower people to make the most out of what they have and influence anyone in relation to art, upcycling, styling and experimenting as well as bringing awareness of the beauty of sustainability.” |
Image of artist Daisy Santos.
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Image of artist Adrienne Wade in her studio.
Adrienne Wade
Adrienne Wade dedicates her life to inspiring change in the world through art, natural living, self-transformation and (w)holism. She is a multi-disciplinary artist and naturalist who has created all her life. Her grandmother, Eleanor, taught her to sew at a young age, making room for creative expression and personalized style. Her work continues to honor virtues connected to inner liberation and alchemy. Adrienne’s art is filled with metaphysical messages, metaphorical abstractions and playful creative symbolism. Her relationship with upcycling honors transformation and change. It also honors creativity as a flow state that invites us to perceive from a new perspective.
Adrienne Wade dedicates her life to inspiring change in the world through art, natural living, self-transformation and (w)holism. She is a multi-disciplinary artist and naturalist who has created all her life. Her grandmother, Eleanor, taught her to sew at a young age, making room for creative expression and personalized style. Her work continues to honor virtues connected to inner liberation and alchemy. Adrienne’s art is filled with metaphysical messages, metaphorical abstractions and playful creative symbolism. Her relationship with upcycling honors transformation and change. It also honors creativity as a flow state that invites us to perceive from a new perspective.
Moderator, Olivia Sawai
Olivia Sawai is a self-taught artist and muralist based in Los Angeles, California. Her passion for creating began as an act of self-care and expression. Sawai intends to use her work to spread awareness of the importance of mental health while cultivating a supportive community.
Olivia Sawai is a self-taught artist and muralist based in Los Angeles, California. Her passion for creating began as an act of self-care and expression. Sawai intends to use her work to spread awareness of the importance of mental health while cultivating a supportive community.
About the organization:
Sovern LA is an intersectional community center and gallery, located in LA’s West Adams district, focused on supporting Black and Indigenous women and gender expansive people of color. Fueled by a passion for justice, equality and creative expression, our organization is driven by the collective determination to center healing justice, challenge systemic barriers, empower artists of color and amplify their impact for collective wellbeing. By building a community that uplifts and celebrates diverse voices, we aim to reshape the art world in Los Angeles and beyond, creating a more inclusive and equitable space where artists and communities can thrive together.
This show was produced by Sovern LA, curated by Austin Lee and Nicole Shostak-Sabourian.
Viewing by appointment Monday, Tuesday, Thursday 10 am - 3 pm
Saturday 9 am - 2 pm
Email to book viewing time: [email protected].
Sovern LA is an intersectional community center and gallery, located in LA’s West Adams district, focused on supporting Black and Indigenous women and gender expansive people of color. Fueled by a passion for justice, equality and creative expression, our organization is driven by the collective determination to center healing justice, challenge systemic barriers, empower artists of color and amplify their impact for collective wellbeing. By building a community that uplifts and celebrates diverse voices, we aim to reshape the art world in Los Angeles and beyond, creating a more inclusive and equitable space where artists and communities can thrive together.
This show was produced by Sovern LA, curated by Austin Lee and Nicole Shostak-Sabourian.
Viewing by appointment Monday, Tuesday, Thursday 10 am - 3 pm
Saturday 9 am - 2 pm
Email to book viewing time: [email protected].
