Denim Reimagined Part 2

The Denim Reimagined series continues. Simultaneously with our collaboration with the Sew Me Collective in London, we wanted to keep exploring how discarded jeans can be rebuilt, reshaped, and restored through the hands of artists with different skillsets and background. We needed to continue to look at our own piles of post-consumer denim with fresh eyes. Instead of stockroom overflow, we see raw material. Instead of limitations, we see possibilities.

Some challenges need creativity more than they need strategy. In North America, one of those challenges sits quietly in our stockrooms: more than two thousand pairs of post-consumer jeans. They are full of character and history, but they also take up space. For years we have been searching for a partner who could help us repurpose them in a way that truly aligns with our ethos. No shortcuts. No compromises. Nothing that turns good material into something disposable.
So far, no match.

To move forward, we turned to our community of artists and makers. Their task was simple. Use what exists. Transform it into something entirely new. Carry the spirit of re-make into a new context.
This chapter is the result.

Instead of letting the problem continue to grow, we turned to the people who inspire us most. Our own community. This project will not make the entire volume disappear, but it will make a difference. If each store can transform even one hundred pairs into something new, we free up space and prove that old jeans still have value. More importantly, the project raises awareness around repurposing, slow creativity, and what can come from looking at worn garments with fresh eyes.

We reached out to a handful of artists and makers across North America. Each of them received post-consumer Nudie Jeans and full creative freedom. The only rule was to stay true to their own practice.
The results could not be more different from one another, which is exactly why the project works.

Below you will find each artist and their contribution to Re-use Reimagined. And if you feel inspired, come see us.

@madebyrila

Brian Nemedez, also known as MadeByRila, is a multidisciplinary artist whose practice spans airbrushing, sewing, and hand embroidery. His work is rooted in experimentation and craft, often blending technique with personal storytelling.
Alongside his two brothers, Brian co-owns the clothing brand Jubo Clothing and the retail space Coldwater SJ, where community, creativity, and culture meet. Much of his inspiration comes from the music, media, and lived experiences he grew up with, all of which continue to shape his artistic voice today.

Brian’s journey with denim began through practicality. Family and friends donated their old clothes to him and denim quickly became the material he worked with most. Upcycling came naturally. The worn areas, unique fades, and personal histories helped him create pieces with personality. Sustainability is central to his work. He makes an effort to use materials he already has, and patchwork allows him to use even the smallest scraps.

When Brian approached this project, he began by studying the jeans closely and choosing the most interesting worn areas for the focal points. The rest became a mix of patchwork and sashiko-style repair.

His finished piece, a fully upcycled barber chair, is a standout. Every panel of denim tells its own story. Nothing feels forced or overly polished. It looks lived in, but ready for its next chapter.
If he had to choose one word for denim, it would be longevity. He connects its durability to the stories he grew up with as the son of an immigrant. Strength and endurance over time.
Brian hopes his work encourages more people to experiment, reuse what they have, and push their creative boundaries.w

@emmaharling

Emma Harling is a Swedish designer who works with textile, surface and product design. Initially trained as a printmaker, she holds a BA in Art History with a minor in Textile Technology from Uppsala University, and is currently based in New York City. 

Emma is known for her distinctive patterns, sense for quality and intuitive exploration of color. She collages references from art history with her own everyday observations and utilizes manual artwork creation techniques in order to create artistic collections of functionality and meaning.

Emma sees denim almost like a painter sees pigment. She loves how it is both consistent and varied. The different shades of blue create an entire palette to work from.
Her approach to sustainability is rooted in knowledge. She has studied circular textiles and material science, which influences how she thinks about materials, design, and the entire lifecycle of a piece. For her, sustainability is a mix of responsible sourcing, timeless aesthetics, and long-term usefulness.

She began the project by sketching geometric shapes, then shifted into a more intuitive process. Upcycling demands flexibility. The material dictates what is possible. She played with color harmony, rearranged patches, and built a composition that balances structure and softness.
Her word for denim is hardworking. It is worn by people in all situations and carries the traces of daily life in a way few materials do.

Emma believes the limitations of reused materials often make the best ideas. If her work can encourage even one person to rethink their own scraps and leftovers, she sees that as a success.

About 5 -8 pairs of jeans used to get the color block. 

@nudiejeansla

Josh has been part of the Nudie Jeans family for four years, and during that time he has always been drawn to the possibilities hidden in our Re-use piles. Before this project even took shape, he was already experimenting in the shop. Tote bags, laundry bags, pouches, hats, seat covers. Anything he could make in a single day.

For Josh, sustainability is about giving new life to something that appeared finished. Working with scraps forces problem-solving. Shapes rarely match. Yields are unpredictable. You piece things together, make adjustments, and trust the process. He describes it as stressful and free flowing at the same time.

Josh’s one word for denim is timeless.

The chair he reupholstered captures his approach. Practical, inventive, and honest about the material. Denim that would otherwise sit in storage becomes something functional again.
He hopes this project helps people understand that the world does not need more clothes. We already have enough. The real shift comes from reimagining what already exists.

@studio__plum

Paolo is a self-taught woodworker and furniture designer who treats materials with respect from the moment they enter his workshop. Growing up in a Filipino household, he learned the importance of doing things yourself. Fixing what you can, using what you have, and taking pride in being resourceful. Those lessons shaped him early on and made it clear that he wanted to build a career and a business of his own. Studio Plūm came to be after Paolo discovered how much he enjoyed the craft of woodworking. Seeing a project move from an idea, to selecting materials, to becoming a finished piece is incredibly rewarding, and it’s what keeps him committed to his work. Even as technology and AI continue to evolve, Paolo believes there will always be real value in creating something by hand. He feels lucky to share that work with others who feel the same, especially in Los Angeles, the city that shaped him and continues to influence the way he sees craft and community.

Sustainability is not an afterthought. It is part of how he designs. Offcuts rarely become waste. They become shelves, table legs, or the starting point for a new shape.
Working with denim felt surprisingly familiar. He sees it the same way he sees wood. Both materials show their history through marks, fading, and wear. Nothing is ever perfect, but everything is meaningful.


The bench he created now sits outside the Nudie Jeans Repair Shop on La Brea. It is simple, sturdy, and wrapped in denim that has already lived a long life. He chose the word everlasting to describe the material.

Paolo designs with the future in mind. He often thinks about how his pieces live after they leave his hands. Denim, like wood, continues to change and take on character for years to come.

@alexandragraceworkshop and @gracebabyclothing

Alexandra Grace Jenkins is an artist and independent designer from Texas. After spending several years in New York City working in fashion design, she returned home to continue her practice on her own terms. She specialises in women’s accessories, often working with bold, sculptural forms, including her signature oversized bows.
Alongside her main work, Alexandra recently launched a children’s line called Grace, inspired by motherhood and the everyday creativity she shares with her son.

Alexandra had never worked with denim before this project. That was her reason to join. She wanted to try a material that was completely new to her and challenge her own process.

For her, sustainability means treading lightly. She believes in slow production and one-off pieces rather than multiples. Her volunteer work at FABSCRAP in Brooklyn made the scale of textile waste impossible to ignore. Walking into a warehouse full of discarded fabric was a turning point and a reminder of how much is thrown away long before it is worn out.

For the Re-use Reimagined project, Alexandra transformed five pairs of post-consumer Nudie Jeans into kidswear and accessories, creating pieces that celebrate playfulness, care, and second life. Working with used denim required a careful approach. Every pair showed wear in different ways, so she chose the strongest sections and let the rest guide her. The result became a pair of wide-legged kids jeans and a sculptural hair bow, both playful and full of contrast.

If she could describe denim in one word, it would be strong. She loves how denim softens without losing its integrity and how easily it can be repaired and reinforced.
Her hope is that people begin to view fashion as art and treat garments with more care and curiosity.