We were lucky to catch up with Jenny Webster recently and have shared our conversation below.

Alright, Jenny thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. What’s the kindest thing anyone has ever done for you?

One of the kindest things that anyone has done for me was when Jaki Canterbury at Slowfiber encouraged me to sew by hand. She teaches sewing by machine, and by hand, at her shop so I respected her opinion. I told her that I wasn’t talented at operating machines, and that sewing by hand relaxes me. She told me that hand-sewing is a legitimate and respected practice. This was so helpful to me because it gave me confidence to decorate my upcycled clothing with only hand-sewn patches. Now people appreciate the look of my hand-stitching, and I have a form of relaxation built into my creative business model.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

My name is Jenny, and I create and sell upcycled one-of-a kind clothes. I wanted to make a business that allowed me to be creative, to use primarily second-hand materials, and to support a women’s clinic in West Africa. Starting in 2004 I traveled to Senegal in West Africa every year for fifteen years. At that time I saw the hardships that women face in rural areas of Africa. Most women in these areas have a third-grade education or less. When my friend started The Senegal Health Institute in the area of Africa that I was very familiar with, I wanted to support her any way I could. I named my business One Woman Two Fires to honor the women of Africa who I saw cooking over an open fire and caring for their children and communities all at the same time.
One thing that makes the clothes that I upcycle and decorate unique is my use of African fabrics. I have a large selection of scraps from African tailors, as well as from American quilters. I hand-sew all the cloth patches, and I hand-stamp my original poetry on many of my creations. Every piece of clothing I create is a one-of-a-kind, so when clients buy a One Woman Two Fires item, they are buying a work of art that supports women in rural Africa.

What do you think is the goal or mission that drives your creative journey?

One of my goals is to reduce the amount of trash going into landfills. I use only clothing I find at second-hand stores, or donations of used clothes. I also use scrap cloth to decorate the clothes I sell. I receive leftover cloth from African tailors, American quilters and other salvaged cloth sources. I want consumers to see the creativity and unique value of second-hand items, and I want them to understand the damage caused to our earth when they buy only new products. Little by little I want society to move away from the throwaway culture.

What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?

The most rewarding aspect of being a creative is hearing from people how much they appreciate the unique quality of my work. Many people are just now becoming aware of upcycling, and when they see that I can make something unique and beautiful from used materials they are impressed. I have been told many times that upcycling is a great idea, and they love my creations.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: @onewomantwofires