A Second Life for Textiles. A New Opportunity for Makers.

Boom Town Makers Market introduces its Upcycled Fashion Initiative with an Oct. 31 Coffee and Conversation.

A well-loved denim jacket. A vintage tablecloth with beautiful embroidery. A collection of fabric remnants waiting for someone to see what they can become.

In the hands of an imaginative maker, these materials can become something entirely new: clothing, accessories, and wearable art with character, purpose, and a story.

Boom Town Makers Market is bringing that spirit of reinvention to Fort Payne through its Upcycled Fashion Initiative, a program designed to connect creative people, encourage thoughtful reuse, and help makers develop the skills to bring their designs to market.

Giving Fashion Another Chapter

Interest in giving clothing a second life keeps growing. According to ThredUp’s 2026 Resale Report, conducted by GlobalData, the U.S. secondhand clothing market grew nearly four times faster than the broader retail clothing market in 2025. While resale and upcycling differ, that growth reflects a broader appetite for clothing beyond newly manufactured fashion.

Upcycling adds a designer’s imagination to the process. Rather than simply passing along an existing garment, makers transform clothing and textiles into pieces with a new use, appearance, or identity. Think reconstructed vintage clothing, repurposed denim, hand embellishment, visible mending, and unexpected fabric combinations.

The possibilities are as individual as the people creating them. An inherited textile can become a contemporary jacket. Fabric scraps can become a distinctive handbag. A forgotten garment can become someone’s favorite piece.

Supporting the People Behind the Designs

For Boom Town Makers Market, the initiative builds on a commitment to original work and the people who make it.

Its mission is to connect emerging and experienced makers to celebrate original design, thoughtful reuse, and wearable art. Through mentorship, shared learning, business education, and opportunities to showcase and sell their work, the program aims to help designers turn creativity into lasting businesses.

An Advisory Council will bring together experienced makers with backgrounds in clothing, jewelry, textile reuse, and creating products for consumers. Through networking events, mentoring, and open discussion, advisors will share their creative journeys, lessons learned, and practical knowledge.

Conversations will explore design and sourcing, along with pricing, presentation, selling, and other business best practices. The goal is to create a welcoming place to ask questions, exchange ideas, and learn from people who understand both the satisfaction and the challenges of making something by hand.

Looking ahead, possibilities include working with the local entrepreneurial center on fashion as a business, along with fashion shows, trunk shows, and other opportunities to introduce makers and their work to customers.

Interested designers and anyone curious about the Upcycled Fashion Initiative are invited to a “Meet and Greet” coffee, Saturday, Oct. 31, 2026, at 10 a.m. at Boom Town Makers Market in downtown Fort Payne. We will introduce our advisory council, share ideas, and help imagine what comes next.

Members of the Advisory Council are:
Lynn Locklear Brewer, Co-Founder/Designer, Sisters Revival
Mariah Alexis Emmett, Founder/Designer, Funky Mae Purses
Susan Stockwell Gauthier, Founder/Designer, Boho Brooches
Lisa Morris, Founder/Designer, BoHo Chic Boutique
Susan Spillman, Founder/Designer, Suzi’s Stuff

Upcycled fashion designers are welcome to bring examples of their designs. You don’t need an established business—or a finished collection—to join the conversation. Whether you work with textiles, create accessories, enjoy fashion, or want to explore the possibilities of making, you are welcome.

Bring your curiosity, your questions, and your love of original design.

Let’s see what we can make possible, together.