Today we’d like to introduce you to Colleen Luksetich and Alexa Strotman.

Colleen *& Alexa, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?

In 2023, we met at a local music basement show during a grindcore night. We quickly became great friends and began spending most of our free time together. Our connection grew not only through our shared love for art but also as we both experienced artist’s block. To help each other overcome it, we started by painting portraits of one another, creating art on our days off, and engaging in community-building activities together.
Both of us Have a strong passion for sustainability, as we enjoy hunting for secondhand treasures. We often found ourselves roaming thrift stores, garage sales, and flea markets in search of hidden gems. This led us to develop an interest in upcycling, particularly with jewelry and clothing, which ignited a passion that inspired us to start a business. Initially, we intended for this venture to be a hobby for a small art fair in Boone, Iowa, but it rapidly grew into something much more successful than we ever anticipated. Although we are still under a year old, we have achieved significant success in the Ames and Des Moines areas.
Working alongside other small artists and local businesses to create community-building events has been an incredibly rewarding experience. Our brand, SWE3T T00TH, is centered around sustainable art creation as we strive to explore as many creative outlets as possible. We feel fortunate to be a part of an upcoming sustainability conference, where we aim to demonstrate how easy it can be for young people to adopt sustainable practices and revitalize items that might otherwise be considered damaged or undesirable. Landfill waste is a significant issue globally, particularly in the U.S. Encouraging young people to recycle and upcycle is crucial for the future. There is something uniquely fulfilling about creating items that reflect one’s taste and individuality, making the process feel even more special.

Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?

Both of us are only 23, and we have a lot to learn about owning a business, especially when it comes to financially supporting ourselves. Colleen was a senior at Iowa State University, while Alexa was a full-time hairstylist. We found it extremely challenging to run a business while also pursuing our other life goals. We reached a fork in the road where we had to choose between doing what we thought we needed to do versus following our passions. Ultimately, we decided to pursue what we are passionate about: Colleen dropped out of college, and Alexa left her hairstylist job.
Adapting to these changes was hard, especially with the high expectations others had for us. We faced the dilemma of trying to meet those expectations or setting our own goals and following our hearts. Since there are two of us running SWE3T T00TH, we haven’t yet been able to make this our full-time job, although that is our ultimate dream. To manage our responsibilities, we have taken part-time jobs while continuing to develop SWE3T T00TH. This arrangement has made running the business a bit easier, as we can choose our schedules and determine how much time we can devote to it.
However, we have faced difficulties prioritizing tasks we didn’t enjoy, alongside struggling with our biggest obstacle, mental health issues. There are times when one of us is more productive than the other, and there can be moments of disagreement due to anxiety or frustration. Fortunately, we have developed a deep understanding of how each other works, and we recognize the importance of communication. Even when it’s challenging, we always find a way to overcome these issues together. We’re very grateful to have one another.

Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?

I’ve always been interested in darker and moodier styles growing up. I went to a lot of concerts and was super inspired by alternative scenes. I was an emo kid in middle school and high school. So that fashion sense has definitely shown in SWE3T T00TH. My personal art style is very inspired by human anatomy. I’ve always challenged myself to draw portraits of friends and loved ones as well as ball-jointed dolls. I’m very inspired by unique figures and surrealism. A lot of my artwork I consider very surrealist and an interpretation of my emotions or my outlook on my life. I’ve definitely been more inspired to create art since I started oil painting. I’m hoping in the next year to produce as much art as I can because my passion in life is to be a local artist and build up my portfolio to something I’m really proud of. -Alexa

I’ve always drawn ever since I can remember. Art classes were where I excelled, and I always asked for art supplies every Christmas. A lot of my close family and friends always refer to me as someone with ‘child-like wonder’ and I think that reflects in my art style. I’ve always been inspired by bright, eclectic, and over-the-top artists such as Betsy Johnson and Vivienne Westwood. Along with books and series such as Fancy Nancy, A Bad Case of Stripes, Judi B Jones, and Nancy Drew. I’ve found in the last couple of years of my life that how I style myself and what I create has a sense of “healing my inner child.” I can’t wait to see how my style changes and improves throughout next year, uplifting myself as an artist.
-Colleen

In terms of your work and the industry, what are some of the changes you are expecting to see over the next five to ten years?

The market industry is quite fascinating, especially when it comes to local markets in the Midwest. There is a wide range of prices among resellers and upcyclers. Obviously the value of artwork is ultimately determined by the artist, particularly handmade goods or reworked items. However, we have noticed that some resellers flood the market with items priced at excessively high markups- sometimes up to 500%
When starting a small business, it is crucial to consider demographics and identify who you’re trying to attract. Through our participation in smaller art markets, we’ve found that keeping our prices affordable is important. Most attendees who support small artists are often students or fellow artists with limited incomes; we both know what that’s like and wouldn’t price anything that we, ourselves, wouldn’t buy.
While certain pieces may be worth a higher price, they tend to perform better in antique malls or larger flea markets where there is a broader demographic, including people with diverse incomes who can afford unique vintage items. Our goal isn’t to be resellers but to reimagine clothing. This includes adding patchwork, embroidery, hand painting, or incorporating our favorite pop culture characters, along with our original artwork. We find that this approach helps our creations stand out and adds a personal touch, which makes us proud to know we are crafting a unique image for ourselves. The fact that we have found so much support shows that others enjoy and appreciate it as well, which is such an amazing feeling.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.swe3tt00th.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/swe3t.t00th/profilecard/?igsh=MXY2bWgxcDU3amsybw==
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/1APWHYFV9C/?mibextid=LQQJ4d

Image Credits

Personal Photo & picture of hoodie:
– Photographer: Trinity Lakose
– Instagram: @trinnoelphotography

Babydoll dress photo:
– Photographer: Ty Williamson
– Instagram: @tyourshoe