Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Pat “Pattyg” Gill. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Pat “Pattyg”, appreciate you joining us today. Did you always know you wanted to pursue a creative or artistic career? When did you first know?
I believe I’ve always known I was a ‘Creative’, I just didn’t know what to call it! I started writing and illustrating my own stories when I was around 6-7 yrs old and tried to sell them to the neighborhood kids. My mother was a master seamstress and taught me to sew when I was 8–that’s when my love of textiles/fabrics began. I would go through mom’s box of fabric scraps so I could design my own toys from patterns that I created-they were definitely ‘unique’! I even designed my mom an apron from my own pattern!
I’ve made/sold macrame hangers, designed & made candles, created sand art, worked with oil & acrylic paints, painted furniture, painted clothes, made & sold crocheted purses (I did this in high school during my government class!) and was a teddy bear artist in the 80’s, creating and making mohair fully jointed bears. I even had a line of bears that sold through a local business and have sold internationally.
My main love of recycling and remaking pre-loved clothing came about naturally when I discovered vintage clothing. I created ‘Rocksteady Fashion’ my vintage clothing, sustainable fashion business as a way to share that love.
As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your background and context?
I had been buying & selling collectibles, antiques and such for several years when I noticed some vintage clothing at an estate sale. The amazing detailing and beauty of those pieces stole my heart, and my fate was sealed! While I still ‘dabble’ in collectibles, my main focus is now on recycled fashion.
I currently work with not only vintage clothing but also with good quality modern sustainable fashion pieces. There is great joy in bringing life back into a piece that was headed to a landfill. All items I take in are cleaned, repaired, some are reworked/re-imaged, and all are made wearable and usable once again. It is my great honor to have customers come to me for help with their clothing needs–prom’s, weddings and many other special events. They can wear my clothing with confidence knowing they are wearing unique, one-of-a-kind fashion that was given new life.
The mission of ‘Rocksteady Fashion’ is to encourage, to uplift and bless, to help bring out the unique individual God intended for us to be.
“You are fearfully and wonderfully made”
Psalm 139:14
Rocksteady Fashion – ‘clothing as unique as you’. That is my goal, to show each and every person I meet that they are unique, special and loved.
Have you ever had to pivot?
Back in the 80’s I was working from home as a teddy bear artist. This allowed me to be home with my 3-young children and take care of our small farm while my husband traveled with his job. Unfortunately, the strain of being apart most of the time brought about the end of my marriage. I found myself alone with 3-children on a remote farm with very limited income so I did what I had to do. I sold the farm, moved to the city and got a job. This left no time for creativity.
The next 20+ years were very difficult as I attempted to adjust to my ‘new normal’ which didn’t include creating. Depression had become my unwanted companion and the tediousness of my ‘work-eat-sleep’ lifestyle often felt unbearable. But God’s grace is good, my children grew, my income improved and I was finally able to get back into what I loved.
I recently retired from my full-time job and I’m now able to focus more on my business and the goals I have for it. It is my hope & prayer that I can share the blessings I received when life was a struggle by providing affordable, sustainable clothing to all!
Is there a particular goal or mission driving your creative journey?
People are throwing around harsh words without understanding their global consequences
In an effort to help relieve some of this daily tension, I am designing a line of affordable recycled clothing called “Wear the Word”. Each piece will present a more positive, hopeful message, some Christian-based, some just uplifting & fun. The goal is to put a smile on someone’s face and perhaps help them deal with their world.
It is the goal of Rocksteady Fashion to ‘throw’ out more positivity–one small effort can change someone’s world!
Contact Info:
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: www.rocksteadyfashion.com
- Instagram: rocksteadyfashions
- Facebook: rocksteadyfashions
- Other: ETSY: www.rocksteadyfashion.etsy.com DEPOP: www.depop.com/rocksteadyfashion