BY BRIAN HILL
Fashion isn’t just about what you wear, it’s about what you stand for. In a world where fast fashion pollutes at record pace, Boston-based fashion designer, Brian Antonevich is ripping apart the old rules and stitching a new narrative through his brand, Frayed Needle.
According to Levi Strauss & Co. and the United Nations, it takes more than 1,800 gallons of water to make just one pair of jeans, largely due to cotton cultivation and dyeing. That same pair can also produce over 33 kilograms of CO2 emissions, as reported by the Ellen MacArthur Foundation. But what if fashion could reverse that damage? What if rebellion could be responsible?
That’s exactly what Antonevich is doing. Through Frayed Needle, he transforms iconic designer denim — think Roberto Cavalli, Versace, Calvin Klein, and Levi’s — into one-of-a-kind, upcycled pieces that scream attitude and sustainability. He’s not only making jeans better, he’s making the planet better, one pair at a time.
As Frayed Needle prepares to launch its newest collection this October on the runway at Phoenix Fashion Week, and as a featured brand in the Fashion Rewired Showroom, we sat down with Antonevich to talk premium denim, circular fashion, and how rock stars helped turn his passion project into a movement.
Q: What is Frayed Needle, in your own words?
Brian Antonevich: Frayed Needle is fashion with an edge. I take premium vintage denim and resurrect it into something bold, artistic, and sustainable. These aren’t just jeans, they’re statements. I don’t mass- produce. I deconstruct luxury denim by hand and rebuild it with purpose. If it doesn’t make someone say “whoa,” it’s not done yet.
Q: How did your journey from engineer to fashion designer happen?
Antonevich: I was a career engineer, but I always had this creative side pulling at me. I used to rip up shirts just to make gym outfits look cool. Friends noticed. I started customizing pieces after work every night. When COVID hit, I had this moment: Life’s short, do what you love. So, I left engineering and went full throttle with Frayed Needle.
Q: Why denim? What drew you to working with it specifically?
Antonevich: Denim has soul. It wears you and tells your story, while being one of the worst offenders in fashion waste. That challenge pulled me in. I love taking a pair of forgotten jeans and turning them into something that demands attention again. It’s about giving iconic denim a second life, creatively and environmentally.
Q: Sustainability is clearly part of your brand DNA. What impact are you hoping to make?
Antonevich: Big brands burn through water, chemicals, energy, you name it. By upcycling, I’m saving that waste from ever happening again. And according to WRAP UK, just extending a garment’s life by nine months reduces its carbon, water, and waste footprint by 30%. That’s massive. So, imagine doing that with every pair that I design.
Q: You’ve already caught the attention of some major names. Who’s wearing Frayed Needle?
Antonevich: It’s been wild. Music stars [like] Post Malone, Quinton Griggs, Keith Harkin, they’ve all worn Frayed Needle. Artists who understand individuality. Edgar Allan Poets, a killer noir rock band, said it best: “If you want to dress like a real rock star, look no further than Frayed Needle.” That blew me away.
Q: What makes your approach to design stand out in today’s fashion market?
Antonevich: I don’t sketch collections; I build them with my hands. I work piece by piece. Each jacket or pair of jeans is made with zero machines, just raw fabric, stitched vision, and hand crafted. I add one- of-a-kind touches that break the rules with my needle and thread. The end result? A premium denim piece that nobody else in the world owns.
Q: You’re showcasing your latest collection at Phoenix Fashion Week this fall. What can we expect?
Antonevich: Expect energy. Edge. Revolution. I’m creating pieces that honor Frayed Needle’s roots — gritty, upcycled, one-of-a-kind, but with more runway polish. It’s the first time I’ll be showing this full vision on a big stage, and being part of the Fashion Rewired Showroom in Phoenix will take Frayed Needle up another notch. I want people to see that sustainable doesn’t mean soft — it can be loud, bold, and unstoppable.
Q: What’s your message to other creatives who want to combine fashion
and purpose?
Antonevich: Don’t wait. Start now. Be original. Don’t follow trends — literally tear them up. Always lead with intention. Whether you make ten pieces or ten thousand, make sure they mean something to the world.
Frayed Needle isn’t here to blend in, we are here to disrupt, reconstruct, and reshape what sustainable fashion can be.
As Brian Antonevich preps his fall collection for Phoenix Fashion Week, one thing is clear: denim’s not dead, it just needed a new stitch of life. Rip it. Stitch it. Wear it. Save the planet! Learn more about Phoenix Fashion Week at www.phoenixfashionweek.com and follow Frayed Needle on Instagram @frayed_needle.
