Filipino creator Nava Rose is raising awareness of sustainable fashion.
Upcycling clothes on social media started as a hobby for the California-based TikTok user Nava Rose, who asked not to reveal her social media name, says she now uses her platform to raise awareness about sustainability in fashion.
“It all started when I was at a thrift store and saw a lot of things that didn't fit me,” Rose said. “And I thought, 'Okay, well, maybe I can shorten this or fix this.'”
The 33-year-old content creator, who has 5.7 million followers on TikTok, said her journey documenting thrifted and recycled fashion began in 2018 when she posted to her followers on YouTube. Her passion for style and support for the environment only grew from there.
“It's not a good idea to throw things away,” she says. “So I thought I'd start with my closet and see what I can recycle and make into something new. I know that a lot of recycled items end up in landfills.”
In celebration of Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) Cultural Heritage Month, Ms. Rose was recently invited to the White House Annual Banquet to represent Filipino culture. She showed off her traditional sleeved suit dress made from vintage and recycled materials.
“I started making clothes out of bags and now I'm in the White House,” Rose said of the experience. “And I got to wear the piece that I made. It was really, really special.”
Rose said her family was one of her biggest motivations for pursuing her passion.
“I think the inspiration that started it all was my mother and grandmother,” Rose added. “I'm her third generation of seamstresses. My family definitely sewed, so I used to watch my mom make things and mend things.”
Rose also said representing her culture is a source of pride in her work and goals.
“[My family] “This experience really helped me develop a mindset of making do with what I have, and I think that's really helped me with my DIY and upcycling,” she added. “Instead of constantly buying new things, let's appreciate what we have on this earth and think of ways to make it new again and make it lovely so that people will see it as a treasure again and not just trash.”
Rose said she doesn't see herself stopping anytime soon and will continue to advocate for protecting the planet in fun and unique ways, like recreating new fashion items online and composting.
“I'm always super supportive of anyone wanting to get into the DIY and fashion world,” she added. “Whatever your passion is, just go for it, because we don't know how much longer we have left on this earth.”
When asked what one thing she's learned about fashion, Rose said, “Don't take yourself too seriously. Have fun.”