Deborah H. Carter

Upcycled Wearable Art

from 11 am – 4 pm. My work can also be viewed by appointment. Being part of this group of artists has been such a gift. We all make such different art, but the communication between creatives can be very supportive and encouraging. We don’t create works together, but there is definitely an air of collaboration. They don’t give me the answers, but they help me pose the right questions.

I wonder what it’s like to actually wear one of your pieces. Do you ever do commissions? If so, what is that experience like?

DHC: I recently completed a commission for a collector who requested a piece for her husband’s 90th birthday. The story of this couple is very touching. They fell in love and planned to marry when they were just 20 years old. Their parents strongly objected, saying they were too young. They defied their parents and married in the early 1950’s. Throughout a long and happy life together, their signature song was “Too Young,” recorded by Nat King Cole in 1951 that reached #1 in the United States and became the best-selling song of the year. The collector hoped to incorporate sheet music of that song into the piece, and

I suggested a vest. The final work, “Too Young,” is constructed of sheet music I purchased on eBay.

Knowing who would own and wear the piece was a unique experience, making the whole process so personal. During construction, I made a discovery that added to its charm and potentially its worth. I was struggling with a notch that I’d placed at the back of the vest, and in my attempt to resolve the issue, I noticed something written on one of the sheets. It was Nat King Cole’s autograph! I’d never noticed it before and thankfully hadn’t cut or sewn right through it. The collector was thrilled with the result and she proudly presented it to her surprised and delighted husband at his birthday party with the entire family in attendance.

I’m sure there are many places you’d love to see your work displayed, but is there one particular place that is truly aspirational for you?

DHC: The Met Gala, of course! That event is the nexus of fashion, art, and innovation. Seeing someone ascend the steps of The Metropolitan Museum in one of my creations would be beyond thrilling. I’ve already got several designs running through my mind. I’m not kidding!

Here’s a question that I bet you get a lot. Is it fashion, or is it art? How do you respond?

DHC: Like any artist, I’m fascinated by shape and form, enthralled by color, and curious about the interplay of social and cultural issues. I have a favorite quote from fashion icon Carolina Herrera, “The difference between fashion and art is that fashion is art in movement.” That’s part of why it’s so important to me that my pieces are wearable. It speaks to a fundamental aspect of my work and wearable art in general. The body is my canvas, and the piece is incomplete without the interplay between the garment and the person wearing it. Its shape, structure, color, texture, movement, and sound are ultimately successful only when in concert with the human form. To me, that is art.

Thank you Deborah!