COMMUNITY STORIES: MIA BOOSEY
She taught me how to sew when I was seven years old, and I would practice those skills by making pillows for my entire family for Christmas.
When she wasn’t teaching me how to sew, we would do all kinds of other crafts. Collages, painting and working with clay were definitely my favorite activities.
My mom has been very encouraging to me to try all sorts of art, to help me find the ones I enjoy the most.
I am pursuing a Bachelors in Chemical Engineering with a concentration in Sustainable Energy. This allows me to balance my sewing well.
It's easy to be so absorbed with classes, especially for STEM oriented majors, that I've often had to practice to not forget my hobbies– and actively make free time to exercise the activities I enjoy most.
They are always actively encouraging me to pursue my creative outlets and they have always been the most supportive of everything I make.
I’ve been pursuing this for about three years, and it started during quarantine experimenting with making patterns and using scrap fabric from around my house. I wanted to have a free range to make whatever I wanted to wear.
They were damaging to the environment and overall produced weaker clothes that were not meant to be worn for years.
At that time, I was really into shopping at thrift stores and found it consistently hard to find clothes that fit exactly how I wanted them to.
It became a creative outlet for me, allowing me to express my individual style and contribute to sustainable fashion practices.
What began as a personal project to sew the perfect wardrobe expanded into a passion for upcycling and reducing textile waste and promoting eco-friendly fashion.
It started from trying to make my own pattern I saw from a TikTok, to searching for inspiration on Pinterest, and then starting to piece together my own style. I hadn't sold any of my creations yet, as they were solely for my own satisfaction.
I was at first hesitant on the idea as I had never even considered that as an option, but after Kayla commissioned me to make them a quarter zip jacket, I realized that selling my work could allow me to keep challenging myself and pursuing what I enjoy.
Whether that is second hand shops or small reworked businesses like myself, it’s important to look at other options besides ones harmful to the environment.
At the time, my sole promotional avenue was through Instagram, and it became increasingly apparent that to advance my business, I needed to explore additional avenues.
This is one of the reasons I joined Student-Made NC State.
I am able to promote my work and have the chance to make meaningful connections with other Student-Made artists and customers.
It has continuously reassured me that I'm not navigating this creative journey alone.
It has been wonderful learning about other artists' beginnings and where they are headed, as they are often relatable to my own experiences.
Being a part of Student-Made for only a semester has been extremely rewarding.
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