Meet Haven Deanglis

We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Haven Deanglis a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Haven, so excited to have you with us today. So much we can chat about, but one of the questions we are most interested in is how you have managed to keep your creativity alive.

I try to immerse myself in the work of other artists that I admire, my contemporaries and those from the past. Fashion and garment design are always changing, but the pieces that inspire me the most stay in my head for years. I love going to museums and galleries, not only garments but exhibitions of fiber and more sculptural textile art.

Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?

At STITCH AND DESTROY, I create one-of-a-kind pieces, garments and accessories, from textile waste. Our studio space is incorporated into the layout of our new storefront, off of South Street in Philadelphia. When shoppers enter our space, they see not only the work itself, available for sale, but also the process of making the pieces. The element that I feel is most gratifying is taking waste material, whether dead-stock fabric or deconstructed garments/textiles and transforming it into an entirely new piece. We are as close to zero-waste as possible in our studio. Every scrap and thread clipping is utilized.

There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?

Throughout my college experience I had several internships that gave me invaluable insight in my field. My best advice would be to try and find companies and organizations that have similar goals and practices, and to do whatever you can to be involved.

STITCH AND DESTROY began operations in 2019, and opened our storefront in 2024. Throughout that time I haven’t been going it entirely alone, my long-term partner Corey Heffernan has been involved in STITCH AND DESTROY making graphics, assisting in the studio and now helping manage the storefront. I would advise readers to find a creative or collaborative teammate in their field- someone you can align with to help share responsibilities and work through ideas.

I don’t feel that creativity is well-served by being isolated. I’ve found that being surrounded by a community of other artists, makers and designers has been integral to keeping my momentum in STITCH AND DESTROY. Try and locate a cohort of people that connect with your same goals, values and passions. This can go a long way to encourage and aid you in your journey.

All the wisdom you’ve shared today is sincerely appreciated. Before we go, can you tell us about the main challenge you are currently facing?

With our new STITCH AND DESTROY storefront, we’ve expanded our capabilities but also dramatically increased our overhead and associated costs. Our solution has been to utilize our new space to teach workshops and collaborate with other art organizations for events. In October we’ll be curating and hosting an art show with Cassie’s Craft Coven, showcasing artist’s work that share the same commitment to using reclaimed material in their practice. The demands of keeping the store stocked vs our production capacity as a slow fashion brand are also a challenge we’re currently facing. To keep the store full, we carry the work of other artists, be they home goods like candles and planters or other garments, that utilize waste and upcycle them into new products.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.stitchanddestroy.com
• Instagram: https://instagram.com/stitchanddestroyclothing
• Facebook: https://facebook.com/stitchanddestroyclothing

Image Credits

Photos taken by STITCH AND DESTROY