Story & Lesson Highlights with Vlada Strange of Greenville

Vlada Strange shared their story and experiences with us recently and you can find our conversation below.

Vlada, really appreciate you sharing your stories and insights with us. The world would have so much more understanding and empathy if we all were a bit more open about our stories and how they have helped shaped our journey and worldview. Let’s jump in with a fun one: What do the first 90 minutes of your day look like?
The first 90 minutes of my day look like this: I am gathering the tools I need for the day, going through my inspiration pictures and sketches, drinking lots of green tea and listening to some heavy metal music as I am trying my best to focus on today’s plan as an unmediated ADHDer😳

Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
“My name is Vlada Strange, and I am a costume designer and wardrobe artist.

My love for costume and fashion began in middle school. My parents owned a thrift clothing business, and I was deeply involved from an early age. I loved taking garments that were too big, too small, or damaged, and transforming them into something completely new.

Driven by this passion, I studied at FIDM in Los Angeles, graduating in 2014. From there, I worked in both fashion and costume industries for several years. I even launched a children’s alternative clothing brand, though like many small businesses, it did not survive the COVID-19 pandemic.

During that time, I turned to research and discovered the urgent reality of sustainability in fashion. I realized just how deeply fast fashion impacts our planet. While greenwashing runs rampant in the industry, my research confirmed that upcycling is one of the most powerful solutions available today.

I wholeheartedly believe in reconstructing and upcycling garments, as well as working with deadstock fabrics and trims. Yet, learning the truth about the industry was overwhelming—I felt personally responsible for contributing to the problem, which made me rethink my goals. For a few years, I even lost my creative drive and sank into depression.

But eventually, I returned to my core self. By reconnecting with my own story, I rediscovered inspiration at the intersection of art and fashion. Today, I focus on upcycling and reconstructing thrifted, vintage, and antique finds, as well as using deadstock materials from both small and large fashion brands.

I believe that humanity has already created more than enough. What we need now is not new production, but new imagination. By reworking what already exists, I feel challenged, inspired, and motivated to contribute my own artistic vision to the world.

Thanks for sharing that. Would love to go back in time and hear about how your past might have impacted who you are today. Who were you before the world told you who you had to be?
I have always had a quirky personally. Since early childhood I knew I was different. It was not a good feeling necessarily. I desperately wanted to fit in and be accepted.
It didn’t go so well in high school at all.
But that moment was very much needed as I learned that being yourself is the greatest strength in my life. I still have moments when I feel like I need to mask and fit in (I have kids and being a different mom is a big challenge) but ultimately the only way to be able to feel safe and in piece with myself is when I look and act how I really feel.

When you were sad or scared as a child, what helped?
As a child, I spent much of my time alone.
Due to circumstances, I had little interaction with other children until I started first grade. I managed well on my own—though at times I felt lonely and missed my parents, who I didn’t see often. To fill that space, I created stories and entire worlds in my imagination, using whatever random objects I could find around me.

The real world of creativity opened up to me during a visit to my cousin, who was a teenager at the time. I had brought along my Barbie doll, and when she saw it, she opened her special treasure chest. Inside was a collection of leftover fabrics, scraps of cloth, and buttons. She picked up scissors, a needle, and thread, and within thirty minutes she had designed an entire high-fashion wardrobe for my doll.

It was like watching magic happen before my eyes. From that moment, I was hooked.

Next, maybe we can discuss some of your foundational philosophies and views? What are the biggest lies your industry tells itself?
One of the biggest problems in my industry is greenwashing.
Brands will market “bamboo fiber” as natural and sustainable, when in reality, the processing makes it anything but eco-friendly or healthy. They promote yoga pants made from recycled plastic bottles as “planet-friendly,” yet every wash releases microplastics into the water system while the material itself can disrupt our hormones. They rebrand polyester as “vegan leather” and claim it’s better for the environment, when in truth it’s just another way to produce and sell more plastic under a different name.

Fast fashion also encourages the idea that we need a new wardrobe every season. The garments are made cheaply, designed to be disposable, and rarely last beyond a few wears—further fueling overconsumption and waste.

This reality forced me to completely rethink how I view fabrics and the materials I use in my work. Today, I’m constantly researching truly sustainable options and sourcing vintage silk, pure cotton, linen, and wool from thrift shops and deadstock supplies. It’s an ongoing journey of questioning, unlearning, and seeking out fabrics that align with both my values and my craft.

Thank you so much for all of your openness so far. Maybe we can close with a future oriented question. What is the story you hope people tell about you when you’re gone?
I hope to bring greater awareness to sustainability in both fashion and costume.
For me, it’s not just about creating a product—it’s about creating inspiration. My goal is to encourage people to reimagine what they already own, to see the potential in upcycling garments from their closets, and to make thrifted pieces feel exciting, unique, and fun.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://vladadesigns.org/
• Instagram: vladastrange
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/vlada-s-0a253b95?utm_source=share&utm_campaign=share_via&utm_content=profile&utm_medium=ios_app
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/1JrWacdpkq/?mibextid=wwXIfr
• Yelp: https://yelp.to/oUNt5OXizO