Kneelen Buotte shared their story and experiences with us recently and you can find our conversation below.
Kneelen, really appreciate you sharing your stories and insights with us. The world would have so much more understanding and empathy if we all were a bit more open about our stories and how they have helped shaped our journey and worldview. Let’s jump in with a fun one: What is a normal day like for you right now?
I wake up and will do some morning yoga with my cup of coffee, go to the skatepark, followed by a quick dip in the ocean. I’ll come home and make breakfast and sew for a majority of the day. I’ll usually take a break around the afternoon to go for a bike ride or get outside for a bit or hang out with friends, and then come home and sew until I go to bed!
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
My name is Kneelen and I am the owner/operator of Your Local Fairy Godmother. YLFG is a sustainable clothing (& more!) company. I do a mixture of upcycling previously loved goods as well as hand sewing from scratch. I love to cut up old clothes and fabrics to give them a new life and turn them into one of a kind patch fabric as well as utilize plant dyeing methods, embroidery, painting on textiles, block printing, and so much more. I also make jewelry out of found objects like sea glass, zippers, bread clips, broken earrings, etc. All of my products are made one of a kind, just like the wearer!
Thanks for sharing that. Would love to go back in time and hear about how your past might have impacted who you are today. What was your earliest memory of feeling powerful?
If I had to pinpoint my earliest memory of feeling powerful, I think it would be my eighth grade graduation. It was the first time I made and wore one of my designs! Looking back it was absolutely hideous, bright lime green with zebra print ribbon, but I felt so powerful knowing I designed and made my very own dress!
If you could say one kind thing to your younger self, what would it be?
Failure is a part of life! Never let the fear of being bad at something keep you from trying it in the first place.
I think our readers would appreciate hearing more about your values and what you think matters in life and career, etc. So our next question is along those lines. What are the biggest lies your industry tells itself?
The fashion industry tends to Greenwash quite a bit. So many brands claim that they are sustainable while they do most of their production overseas in sweatshops, use synthetic dyes, use polyester fabrics, follow fast fashion trends, etc. There are also a lot of fast fashion brands, like Shein, H&M, or Forever 21, that will rip off smaller more sustainable artists and pass their designs off as their own.
Okay, so let’s keep going with one more question that means a lot to us: Are you doing what you were born to do—or what you were told to do?
I believe that I am doing what I was born to do, I typically don’t do as I’m told. I have always been infatuated with sewing and design ever since I was little. My grandmother taught me how to sew when I was only 6 years old and I’ve been doing it ever since!
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.yourlocalfairygodmother.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/yourlocalfairygodmother
Image Credits
Kneelen Buotte
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