Gucci with a hole in it

    Gucci with a hole in it.

    This phrase is an ongoing joke I have with my daughter and now business partner, Margot Adams.  We are both guilty of over-indulging in fashion consumerism over the years. I was the last season’s bargain shopper and resale queen.  Margot was the fast fashion, latest-trends-on-a-budget girl. We had an ongoing joke when she would proudly show off a new top purchased at Zara or Forever 21. I would tell her that I would have gotten a Gucci top for the same price.  Her comeback? “Gucci with a hole in it.”

    I am happy to say that we are both scaling back in our fashion consumerism.  I buy almost exclusively from resale, auction or thrift stores. Margot is happy to wear the latest styles through her Rent-the-Runway subscription. Both of these trends are catching on in society as we all try to reduce, reuse and recycle in the fashion space. 

    The other day I pulled out a favorite Gucci sweater (purchased years ago at Rosa’s Closet in East Grand Rapids, MI; and part of my inspiration for the deep V-neck, long sleeved layering top).  When I put it on, I was dismayed to see that there was a moth hole in it!  

    I grew up in rural western Michigan.  My family was frugal out of both philosophy and necessity.  We bought little. We reused often. We recycled by repairing and repurposing as needed.  I was shocked and embarrassed the first time I realized that I was the only one in my second grade class who “darned” the holes in her socks!

    I no longer darn my socks, though perhaps I should.  I do, however, repair the beautiful sweaters, coats and other garments that are discarded by other fashionable women.  Wearing repaired clothing is no longer an embarrassment to me. It is a point of pride and a creative challenge. I quickly repaired the hole in my Gucci sweater and put it on for the day.  

    Reduce, Reuse, Recycle is certainly a start in the push toward a more sustainable society.  But we should not forget about the fourth, important R: Repair. Investing a little time and resources into repairing what we have to give it longer life will support our greater collective efforts to repair our climate.

    Although I have yet to take on the “visible mending” trend of Kate Sekules from visiblemending.com,  I do keep a needle a thread close; and hope to catch up on repairs during the Cornonavirus shutdown. When I eventually get back out into the world, I will proudly be wearing Gucci with a hole in it.



    Article by:

    Gina Kuyers

    Gina Kuyers is the founder of Luxeire. The idea for Luxeire came out of founder Gina’s frustration with the discomfort and high maintenance of beautiful clothing. With a 20-year career and PhD in school psychology, Gina spent decades applying research to real-world problem solving. She brought these well-honed skills to designing and producing a line of elevated wardrobe staples.

    Gina grew up in West Michigan where she attended Calvin College graduating with a degree in education. She continued her education at Fordham where she received her PHD in school psychology. Gina and her husband, David, have four adult children and live in New Jersey—just a short ferry ride from the Luxeire studio in New York City.