3 Easy Fashion DIY Ideas with Staci Bernstein

I met Staci through the vibrant sustainable fashion scene in Boulder, where her creativity and passion for upcycling clothing stood out immediately. 

Her journey from transforming thrifted finds to creating a thriving YouTube channel, Fashion Rebelution, and community is nothing short of inspiring. 

Read her interview below!

1. Staci, what inspired you to start upcycling clothing, and how did that passion lead to creating a YouTube channel??

Burnout. That’s what inspired me. I spent years as a video producer chasing big ideas with tiny budgets, and I finally hit a wall. I needed a creative outlet that didn’t come with deadlines or invoices, so I started upcycling clothes about 15 years ago. It was pure fun—no clients, no rules, just me turning old stuff into wearable art.

Fast forward through fashion school, runway shows, and a driveway boutique (thanks, COVID)—and now I’m in rural Colorado, where “fashion” means deciding between two pairs of cowboy boots. 

My YouTube channel lets me reconnect with my creative roots in film while finding a like-minded, eco-conscious community. 

Here’s the link for anyone who wants to join us https://www.youtube.com/@fashionrebelution 

Also, if you’ve got sustainable fashion ideas or collaboration dreams, I’m all ears. Let’s make something awesome together.

2. Tell me more about your creative process, from finding materials to transforming them into something entirely new?

When I started upcycling, it was all about treasure hunting at thrift stores and spotting the hidden potential in random finds. Then I got into “trash fashion,” turning grocery bags into gowns and garden hoses into wearable sculptures (yes, really). My pièce de résistance? A Valkyrie outfit made from cone-of-shame dog collars that actually won me a cash prize.

These days, my process is less about the one-of-a-kind thrift rework and more about creating designs anyone can replicate. On my YouTube channel, I focus on everyday materials that everyone has access to. For example, I run a grass roots design contest: I share the clothes I have, and viewers pitch ideas. The winner gets their garment made (by me!) and a full tutorial so anyone can try it. You don’t even need to sew or sketch—just communicate your idea.  There’s a contest going on now if you like the challenge. https://youtu.be/PY50cuLE0JE 

3. What advice would you give to someone just starting to upcycle their clothes?

90% of what you need to know is on YouTube—except threading a sewing machine. That’s one skill best learned in person, ideally with someone who won’t judge you for yelling at the bobbin. If you’re local, come to my free mend-and-sew workshops at the Firehouse Arts Center on the third Sunday of every month. We can untangle your threads together. 

Another tip is skip the fabric glue. It’s very tempting to use fabric glue instead of sewing but it doesn’t ends well and ruins the fabric for other projects. I do use glue sticks, the kind that washes out, particularly to hold a patch in place while I sew it down.  It’s faster and flatter than pinning and is one of my favorite upcyler hacks. It can be handy for hems too. Anything on a machine.  It’s not exactly “industry-approved,” but that’s the beauty of upcycling.  

You’re free to do whatever works best.

QUICK LINKS: 

Website: https://www.fashionrebelution.org/

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@fashionrebelution