TEEN VOGUE - MEET THE 7 DESIGNERS MAKING THE COOLEST JEANS TO WEAR BACK TO SCHOOL THIS FALL

From asymmetrical pant legs to inverted jean shorts, making denim is a deeply personal pursuit for these creatives.

BY SARA RADIN

AUGUST 14, 2019

The Series

“As long as I can remember, denim has been a central part of my wardrobe,” says Ella Wiznia, founder of The Series. While starting a clothing brand wasn’t always something the 24-year-old saw herself doing, it was her recovery from an eating disorder in high school that inspired her to stop supporting clothing brands that promote unrealistic body types.

“In 2013, that was pretty much everywhere except for secondhand and vintage shops,” she tells Teen Vogue. “I also became extremely sensitive to how clothing felt on my body…I wanted to find pieces that felt comfortable and that would allow me to grow in, instead of confine me.” This is how oversized vintage denim pants became a staple in her wardrobe and a canvas for her creations, as Wiznia began collaging on denim, using vintage patches, appliqués, and textile remnants.

“While in treatment for an eating disorder, it is common that patients will take up knitting or crochet for anxiety management. However, I took up embroidery,” she explains. With this, Wiznia began incorporating needlework into her jeans as a way of “painting with thread.” “For the first time I started to customize pieces to fit my vision and my body rather than changing my body to fit the clothing,” she shares.

Now, with her brand, Wiznia creates customized denim that is meant for all genders and bodies. Each item is its own masterpiece, bringing together deadstock and reused patches, antique textiles, and embroidery, all of which are hand-stitched onto these one-of-a-kind vintage denim pieces. “I love the history of the material,” Wiznia says. “I love how denim shows the story of its wearer.”