Atlanta designer and creative, Brandon Hayden, first created Happily Dressed in 2019 as a platform for thrift flips, and the process of creating designs from repurposed materials. He has shared the joy for sewing and sustainability with others through workshops and YouTube tutorials. What started as a passion of Hayden’s turned into a greater mission to promote sustainable fashion habits, creativity, self-acceptance, and self-confidence.
Hayden has been sewing for four years now after purchasing a sewing machine to alter thrifted clothing. The hunt for thrifted clothing to be altered evolved into sourcing thrifted fabric with unique textures, loud colors and playful florals to create products using his developed patterns that can not be found
in-store. Hayden has not shopped retail since 2018 (!!!), and he does not miss it one bit. He prefers creating individual pieces that speak to his identity and give him joy!
This one-of-one style of slow fashion is eagerly making its way into brands across the world. What sets Happily Dressed apart is the brand’s message which emphasizes the importance of individuality among Generation Z.
As fast fashion trends often blend styles to make one “trending” look. Hayden says, “I feel like [fast fashion] hinders some people from learning their style. Instead, they jump into a trend.”
To explore style, responsible thrifting can be a great outlet for exploring unique clothing pieces and cultivating a hand-crafted personal style. To take the self-discovered style one step further, HD encourages sewing pockets, buttons, patches, or other bold design accents onto existing pieces, OR starting from
scratch with a unique design.
As an advocate for awareness of the global fashion pollution crisis, Hayden explains the value of clothing through his own handworked designs that reduce waste. He understands the amount of time and energy that goes into making apparel and explains the problems within the fashion industry sourcing clothing overseas from
exploited labor. He explains that fast fashion companies are known for not hosting living wages or safe working conditions for garment
workers. Instead, he urges his community to be conscious of the buying trends and marketing ploys by refusing to buy the clothing from, “the *digital* shelf at Shein.”
The Happily Dressed goal is to promote individualism, and to create long-lasting pieces with care and ethical consciousness. Keep up with the latest works, tutorials for creating at home, and sewing lessons on socials:
Instagram: @happilydressed
YouTube: Happily Dressed
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