S7 Ep18 MAHDIYYAH: sustainable fashion designer and educator - on Fabric Alchemy, and upcycling discarded clothing from local secondhand shops using a zero waste design approach.

Pre-Loved Podcast with Emily Stochl

Pre-Loved Podcast is a weekly vintage fashion interview show, with guests you’ll want to go thrifting with! For more Pre-Loved Podcast, subscribe to our Patreon!

Today’s episode is with Mahdiyyah, a sustainable fashion designer and educator, whose inspiration comes from respecting nature and our connection to the environment.

Her practice of Fabric Alechemy involves upcycling discarded clothing found at local

secondhand stores, and more recently, she’s included a zero waste design approach.

Her work has been spotted in Forbes, Vogue, and shows like The Tamron Hall Show,

Showtime’s The Chi, and FuseTV Upcycle Nation.

She offers sewing classes, and educational fabric workshops in partnership with

local community organizations, in addition to mentorship initiatives for youth,

collaborative curriculum design focusing on sustainable approaches to fashion

education, and events providing a platform to more black and indigenous individuals

doing work within the arts that intersects with sustainability, community, nature, and

conscious consumption.

It’s been a delight to get to know her and her work over the last year, and we learn all about this and more on today’s show – so let’s just dive right in!

DISCUSSED IN THE EPISODE:

• [3:27] Mahdiyyah’s sense of style was influenced by a love of thrifting very early-on.
• [5:48] “Sustainability” and “conscious consumption” were always a part of her lifestyle – her mom viewed it as being “resourceful and creative.”
• [7:53] Learning to sew by watching her mom, and creating fashion design mood boards from a young age.
• [12:20] Fabric Alchemy – the practice Mahdiyyah uses to create.
• [18:45] Starting her namesake brand.
• [28:38] How Mahdiyyah came to source secondhand fabrics for her designs.
• [43:16] Starting a mentorship program for local youth to learn about sewing and sustainability.
• [48:49] Envisioning a more sustainable and inclusive fashion future.
• EPISODE MENTIONS:
• Mahdiyyah’s website
• @mahdiyyahofficial
• Upcycle Nation
• Threads of Habit
• The Canvas
• @dominiquedrakeford
• Dominique Drakeford on Pre-Loved Podcast
• Kimberly Jenkins
• Teyana Taylor
• Teju Adisa-Farrar
• Black Material Geographies podcast
• Whitney McGuire
• Wawa Gatheru

LET’S CONNECT:

• 📸Instagram: @emilymstochl
• 🐦Twitter: @emilymstochl
• 🎥TikTok: @emilymstochl
• 📧 Substack: https://prelovedpod.substack.com/
• 🎧Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/prelovedpod

SPECIAL THANKS:

A special thanks goes out to my Patron Insiders – your support makes Pre-Loved Podcast possible!

• Patty Weber
• Beverley Docherty of Wolfe Pack Vintage
• Danny of Galaxy Live
• Kathy Brand
• Lucero Buendia
• Tricia Zelazny
• Leslie V.
• Lisa of Queenie & Pearl
• Lucille of Galipette Vintage
• KT