It is very nice and hopeful to see in the midst of a pandemic, young people setting goals, "generating" original ideas and willingly seeing them take shape and become reality.
One such person is the Cypriot YouTuber Katia Kyriakoudi known to the public as Cat Von K, who recently impressed us through social media thanks to her new project which concerns second hand clothes which she makes like new through a original technique which he will explain to us below. In fact, you give a good amount of the sales he makes to the Ammochostos Dog Rescuers shelter.
My things, tell us a few words about this particular project. How did this idea come about?
This idea came from a black hoodie I have had for 3 years now, and every day I see it in my closet I say "I'm bored to put it on" even though it was expensive, so one day I was inspired by the current trend coming back after so-called tie dye for so many years, and I say let me risk it. Once I made the first one I could not stop transforming what I had in my closet that I found boring. Two days later my friend comes with 6-7 shirts that he did not want and he gives them to me, there I went crazy with the idea of making them all like that, and they all came out perfect (for me haha). Imagine 2 of the shirts he gave me, he took them back because he liked the way they were shaped. There I saw that, something we consider boring, suddenly comes in a new form and takes "life" again.
From where you are supplied clothes;
Generally last year I love to buy my clothes from second hand shops, you can find the most perfect clothes at the most perfect prices, so I did it as a challenge for me, something that someone considered boring and gave it to a charity shop, to I transform it into something trendy. Here where I live Ayia Napa I found only 2 second hand shops and the one I procure for my online shop, all proceeds go to a shelter in Ormidia. So I say this is the perfect combination for me, I help a shelter by buying my pieces from there, as well as giving the clothes a second chance, and that helps me sell them at much better prices than if I bought them new . I would say this case is win - win - win hahaha
How you make this design on clothes and how feasible is it to do it on our own?
If you go to YouTube and search for tie dye, it will bring you many options from videos that explain this process in detail. It is something relatively easy, the only thing I would suggest is not to make it with plastic rubber bands and after every attempt to cut them, it is a pity, prefer to do it with hair bands and reuse it in your next creation. In no video did I see anyone mention this, and that's why I wanted to say it haha. My own patterns go with my appetite at that moment, I can say "Aaa in a hoody it would fit to do the" spiral "design and in a shirt it would fit just to collect it in various strange patents, this will find it yourself after your first creation.
How much time yours does it take you to prepare them?
My routine is as follows: my online classes start, and while I attend them for 2-3 hours, for example, then I put the rubber bands on my clothes. For 2-3 hours I will put rubber bands in 5 pieces. Then I will go to my shower, I will put the bleach on them where I feel they want. This will take me about 20 minutes, I leave them for as long as they need to, depending on whether they are a shirt or a hoody, and then I will go and wash them all one by one by hand to get as much bleach as I can. This is the hardest part for me and it tires me the most. For 5 pieces as I mentioned above, it may take me no time, after washing / drying, and then another day because maybe by this time the whole day is gone, my friend and I go to the sea for a photo shoot. Again for the 5 tracks it will take us 40 minutes, and then when we are home I will take the photos on their own, another 20 minutes each, and obviously for the end it is the post on social media with the correct description that takes me more 20 minutes each. I told you in great detail, huh? Hahahaha
With each purchase of these clothes, one goes for a good cause, to the dog shelter in Famagusta. Tell us a little for your choice.
I have been a volunteer at the Ammochostos Dog Rescuers shelter for 3 years. This group, like these dogs, I have very close to my heart. Financial assistance is always needed. Almost every new dog that comes to us, comes from very bad conditions and about 80% of these cases have some disease that needs pills to overcome it, so you understand how much it costs for each new dog that comes to the shelter. Of course we work with very good veterinarians who are patient with our invoices and we are very lucky for the volunteers who even with a food donation help the dogs incredibly. There was not even a second thought if from my income I would give something to the shelter. And for as long as I can and creator even if I do something else after that, I will support them as much as I can! Also to note that the clothes that have been given to me, I give 2 euros to the shelter.
Article: Mikaela Konstantinou / Ant1