RE:LOVE - Repurposed — Iron Heart, Reimagined

Lynne

@jimcasey thank you for posting! It’s a thrill to see you wearing it. Looks like it was made for you

More in the making, this time darker…

Steve

great video @Lynne quite hypnotic/relaxing to watch! (is the camera strapped to head?!)

will6er

@Lynne You make it look very easy!

AdamC

That is steady camera work @Lynne, you must have a head strap over there?

Lynne

@AdamC

Lynne

@will6er it is easy when everything goes to plan and the video’s edited - I’ve not posted when it got all caught up at the end, or the threading and rethreading, or the cussing etc etc

Lynne

When things go wrong…

Our Kansai Special belt loop machine is designed for perfect, fresh, stiff sheets of denim – the kind cut in long lengths for production lines. But when it comes to recycling, we’re not working with neat rolls of fabric… we’re working with worn, wibbly jeans that have already lived a life.

To make Reloved belt loop, we cut 32mm strips to feed into a 30mm folder – just enough bite for the feeders to grab, and just enough width to pass through without jamming…well, that’s the theory

Since jeans don’t come in metres of length, we stitch together as many smaller strips as we can. To stop it all bunching up, each piece is carved and trimmed to create a ‘smooth’ 10mm bridge – just enough to trick the machine into thinking it’s still sewing one clean sheet. We add a 10cm x 1cm “tail” – an offcut from hemming – to guide the first piece through the cutter, folder, and stitch feed. It’s the best way to minimise waste and make the most of every inch.

Of course, the Kansai wasn’t built for denim with memories. Even after ironing and hammering flat, these old pieces like to remind you they were once a knee or a thigh. They twist, shift and stretch when you least expect it – it’s particularly galling when it’s right at the start.

As you can see, every day’s a small battle and a big lesson. And I wouldn’t have it any other way ️