BY TERESA K. TRAVERSE
For the past few years, FABRIC’s reFABRICate Fashion Show has challenged designers to craft stylish, upcycled pieces made from one of fashion’s most unsustainable materials: denim. In April, FABRIC teamed up with Tempe Marketplace and Threadz to repurpose used denim into stylish, runway-ready creations.
Fashion designer, stylist, and ASU FIDM student Sammi Satori took home this year’s “RunzWithScissors” award at the reFABRICate Fashion Show. Her winning piece was an updated, sustainable take on Madonna’s famed Bullet Bra. To create the stylish top — which features the famous cone silhouette and sleeves — Satori used nine pairs of preloved Levi’s jeans and one denim jacket. Her design was inspired after seeing a photo of the original garment, and she even had the opportunity to meet its creator, Angela Dean, at a school event.
“Through that connection, I was able to reimagine the iconic silhouette into an original, sustainable design that reflects my own creative vision,” says Satori. The award is deeply important to her. She entered the contest about a year after her grandfather, who encouraged her to pursue her dreams, passed away.
“When I committed to this challenge, I didn’t realize how difficult it would be to construct each piece while also managing 18 credit hours at ASU FIDM in Los Angeles. There were many moments when I thought about giving up, but I drew strength from the words and love of those who supported and believed in me,” she says. “To me, this award represents resilience and the power of perseverance.”
Satori’s focus on sustainable design is woven deep into her personal history. She’s been redesigning garments since she was a child. She grew up in a small Texas town, and much of her wardrobe came from garage stores and thrift stores. The petite designer often altered garments to make them fit her body better.
After finishing her degree, she intends to release a collection crafted entirely out of repurposed Levi’s. With her work, she aims to inspire others to imagine the potential of used clothing.
“My main focus is working with ‘preloved’ denim — rescuing, repurposing, and reimagining it into fresh, innovative designs,” she says. “For me, it’s not just about creating garments, but about giving fabric new life and inspiring others to see the potential in what already exists.”
