DIYthing

A few weeks ago we discovered Mari Santos’ work on her bananafanamomari Flickr stream and posted some of her amazing t-shirt surgeries. Mari takes huge t-shirts and transforms them into some really stylish fashion items. It turns out these designs were part of her submission to Urban Outfitters “Urban Renewal Project“. So we thought we would get to know Mari and learn more about her refashions.

DIYthing: Tell us a little about yourself.

Mari: I’m an artist and an indie designer from Toronto that is inspired by just about everything around me. I get quite happy when I’m able to turn hideous things pretty, and my favourite conversations usually involve my 3 year old sister. I also like naps and raspberry jelly.

DIYthing: When we first saw your t-shirt surgeries on Flickr we were so impressed with your design skills, we just had to show our DIYthing readers how you had transformed those drab t-shirts into hot fashion items. Have you always been interested in fashion design?

Mari: Thank you so much. Always. When I was little, I used to spend hours doodling fun outfits and dresses. My poor barbies were always in “custom” designs, which usually meant me taking a pair of scissors to their ball gowns.

DIYthing: We hear that you have just started designing for Urban Outfitters. How did that happen? What are you working on there?

Mari: Urban was looking for 20 artist/designers to work on some pieces for their Urban Renewal line, so I submitted some of my designs to them. A couple of days later, I received an email asking me if I’d be interested in working with them–I said yes, of course. I’ll be customizing some sweaters for their Urban Renewal Artist Customized project, and they’ll be sold in select Urban stores sometime during the holidays, so I’m really excited.

DIYthing: Can you show us any of the designs that you have been working on lately?

Mari: Here are some initial sketches for some brand new t-shirt surgeries I am planning to undertake. The first is a fun day dress, the second is a t-shirt cardigan and the last, a shirt/dress for a night out.

DIYthing: What is your favorite thing you designed for yourself or someone else?

Mari: I think one of my favourites would have to be a shirt I made for my friend Kate a long while ago. She was/is obsessed with the Constantines, so I wanted to make her a really cool Christmas present that was tailored to that. I went a little crazy with the fabric paint and made her a fun shirt and bag with the band on it. But instead of saying the full band name, the shirt sort of just reads “Constanti” because of my really bad placement coupled with her being ridiculously well endowed.

DIYthing: From what I have seen, the internet has totally changed the game for indies. E-bay was responsible for some of that, but now online communities like Etsy are shaking things up even more. Many indie artists didn’t sell on E-bay because of its auction format. However Etsy is different. Artists/designers can set a fixed price for their work. However, with so many thousands of sellers on Etsy, you can get lost. How do you find new indies online, do you follow certain blogs or social shopping sites?

Mari: I think Etsy is wonderful, and that there are so many talented designers on there. I think the site is generally geared towards customers who are looking for something more personalized, handmade and unique, which is what sets Etsy apart from other selling sites. I follow blogs, definitely. I love the finds on DIYthing, and think it’s great for its content and the fact that it’s updated regularly. I really also like www.notcot.org, which is filled with really amazing stuff, from all facets of design.

DIYthing: Who are favorite indie designers?

Mari: I think Supayana has really cute designs, I love her shirts, as well as the stuff at Postlapsaria. Nicole Locher does the most wonderfully quirky embroidery. My boyfriend Daniel also designs really neat tshirt prints that he puts up on his flickr .

DIYthing: Tell us about the Paper Doll Project?

Mari: The Paper Doll Project is an art DVD collaboration between myself and my good friend and all around amazing film maker, Shaila Khan. It’s a bit of a critique on feminist theory in interpretive video montage form. We made “electronic paper dolls” that when dressed/undressed would lead to a video sequence that sort of explained why the doll was ‘fashioned’ the way she was. One particular doll, the “Supermom” critiqued the expectations of women during pregnancy, and used “Modern Girls and Old Fashioned Men” by the Strokes featuring Regina Spektor as its soundtrack. That clip can be found here: www.vimeo.com/170263

DIYthing: What’s your interest in fashion journalism?

Mari: I love fashion and I love to write, so I definitely aim to go that route career wise. I really enjoy publications such as Amelia’s Magazine, Wonderland and POP; they are just so brilliantly presented and inspiring. In October, I’ll be starting my MA in Fashion Journalism at Central Saint Martins in London, which I am nervous and thrilled about at the same time.

Refashioning

DIYthing: Your refashion project is awesome. We loved how you recreated some famous looks the DIY way. The DIY Twiggy look from the old nightgown - that was creative. DIY has always been around, but it seems as if even mainstream fashion is adopting some DIY ways. Is DIY just a fad that we will get over soon, or will it be like blue jeans and become a part of how we do fashion?

Mari: Thank you. No, I don’t think of DIY as a fad. It’s always been happening, and in a way I think DIY is sometimes more inventive and ahead of the mainstream because it’s basically taking something into your own hands and creating exactly what you want, regardless if the stores are carrying it. So, yes, I think it’s just as much of a staple to fashion as blue jeans are.

Mari’s refashions are definitely ones we will keep on our radar. We will have to check in with her from time to time to see how things are at Central Saint Martins.

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