I first noticed THE SERIES through stalking the brand’s colourful and inspired Instagram page. The garments were playful, imaginative and most of all unique! I love the use of fabric remnants, custom embroidery and patches on vintage denim pieces.

Fashion can be so serious and THE SERIES takes a fun and honest approach, which really appealed to me. The brand doesn’t conform to seasons or gender, which I feel is the future of fashion! When I spoke to the designer and founder of the brand Ella, I was even more inspired by her story. Ella is ambitious, creative and resilient. She has used her personal experiences and struggles in such a hugely positive way which has informed her passions and allowed her to channel her creative energy into THE SERIES.

I wish there were more brands like this!

Name: Ella Wiznia

Occupation: Designer and Founder of THE SERIES + Sustainable Stylist

Location: New York, New York

Q: Tell us about yourself?

A: My name is Ella Wiznia, I’m the designer and founder of THE SERIES NY. I grew up an hour north of New York City and moved into the city when I was 18 to go to NYU. I attended Gallatin School of Individualized Studies at NYU where I studied Urban Design and Architecture, focusing on neighborhood displacement and gentrification. Starting a clothing brand wasn't really something I foresaw myself doing. While miserable in high school, I developed an eating disorder in which I engaged in obsessive over-exercise and severe food restriction.

During my recovery, I realised what a large impact the images that I saw in magazines, clothing ads, and television had on me. I began to notice physical signs of eating disorders in the models I saw advertising the stores I used to shop at, which made me so mad, confused, and sad. These were people I looked at and thought "if I looked like them, then I would be happy" or "that dress has to fit me exactly the way it fits her" or "this is how my body is supposed to look". I decided to stop supporting apparel brands that I felt promoted unrealistic body types, brands whose visual messaging told me that I wasn’t good enough. So, in 2013 that was pretty much everywhere but second hand and vintage shops. I also became extremely sensitive to how clothing felt on my body. And since my body was still changing, I wanted to find pieces that both felt comfortable that would allow me to grow in, instead of confine me.

Oversized vintage denim pants became a staple in my wardrobe and a canvas for my creations. If I liked the wash or wear, I could make the piece work by cuffing or cutting the bottoms and using a belt to cinch the waist. I started collaging on the denim with vintage patches, applique 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. I incorporated this needlework into my jeans, painting with thread. My mom also taught me techniques of alteration and manipulation of clothing. For the first time, I started to to customize pieces to fit my vision and my body, rather than changing my body to fit the clothing.

Shortly after, I started shopping exclusively second hand. I became aware of the enormously harmful impact the production of new clothing has on our environment and the crisis that we as consumers of fast fashion perpetuate. It was then that I vowed to use solely recycled and renewed materials in my work. There is no need to produce more, when we already have too much. Each piece created in THE SERIES, whether denim or reconstructed, is approached as collage - sourcing textiles and fragments from varying decades and origins, piecing them together to create distinct works of wearable art.

Q: What is THE SERIES?

A: THE SERIES is a brand of reworked pieces of wearable art. Each piece is handmade with vintage materials sourced from around New York. They are one of a kind, loved objects, created of only renewed and reworked existing materials. All pieces are season-less, genderless, for all bodies and for all beings.

Q: What is your favourite part of what you do?

A: I love sourcing materials, laying out new designs, and being on set during our photoshoots!!

Q: What would you tell your younger self?

A: To not worry!!! Honestly, I need someone to tell me that today. I am such a worrier.

Q: How important was it to use existing materials for THE SERIES and where do you find them?

A: The most important. 13 million tons of apparel gets added to landfills every year. I think instead of creating more and more, we need to channel our intention and energy into figuring out how to repurpose what already exists. I source from all over… thrift stores, flea markets, barn sales, truly anywhere!

Q: It’s great that each piece is unique – do you find the fabric first and does this inspire your designs?

A: Thank you! Either the fabric or patches normally inspire different pieces. Sometimes I will sit on fabric until I have really great patches to combine them with or vice versa.

Q: There’s a super playful and colourful element of the brand – what has inspired this?

A: Honestly this is personal taste, which I feel has grown alongside the brand. I love to pair super classic and functional shapes with playful colors and prints. Clothing is something that should be really functional and durable to wear but I think that shouldn’t dictate how much fun you can have with expressing yourself! I find myself drawn to a combination of high brow and low brow, whether it be in culture or aesthetics and I believe that can be conveyed through the pieces in THE SERIES.

Q: We love the genderless and season-less approach with a focus on diversity. Is this the future of fashion?

A: Absolutely! I think that is the future of everything. Limiting how people can dress is limiting how people can live and express themselves. It is very exciting and liberating to be living in a time and place where people can explore different sides to themselves and their styles.

Q: Tell us about your custom denim offering and how customers can engage with this?

A: Normally a commission will look something like this…Someone will reach out to me and I will have them come up with a list of things that are meaningful to them and they would want included on the jacket or pants. I then source vintage patches, textiles, etc. inspired by the list. These found objects really lead the design of the piece and then I hand embroider any other customisation they want to make it extra personal.

Q: What inspires you and the brand?

A: I am obsessed with teenagers in the 1960s and 1970s. I just love how cherished authenticity and originality was. This is a huge inspiration behind the one-of-a-kind pieces I create. The colours I use are heavily influenced by advertisements from that time as well. With regards to content that I embroider, like sayings, fonts, and composition…It is funny, but I find a lot of inspiration through mistakes. For instance, I will quickly see a quote and think it says one thing but it actually says another. But then I decide I like what I thought it was better and so will embroider that onto a piece. Or I wish that the jacket that just walked by me had this design on it or a pocket here or…so I will incorporate that into my next piece! Also vanilla ice cream with rainbow sprinkles.

Q: Who are your heroes and heroines?

A: Suze Rotolo! She was an incredible artist and activist who lived in the West Village starting in the 1960s. She was an incredible illustrator, set designer and book maker. She was a political activist in groups like Congress of Racial Equality and Peace Action (which was called SANE) and tested the US travel ban to Cuba in 1964. She was so honest about what she felt was morally right or wrong and let that guide her life.

Q: Favourite colour?

A: A nice deep green. And I am really loving yellow!

Q: Describe how your favourite jeans make you feel in 3 words?

A: Strong. Prepared. Complete.

Q: Coffee or tea?

A: Tea!

Q: Best pizza spot?

A: Little Italy Pizza on University! I love white pizza with spinach.

Q: Favourite city you’ve visited?

A: Copenhagen! That is a city built for people and happiness

Q: Best vacation you ever took?

A: Miami with my cousin, who is also one of my best friends. We have done the trip a few times and it is always full of museums, yummy food and laughing and walking for hours looking at the Art Deco buildings. It is magic.

Q: What book is on your coffee table right now?

A: A vintage book of Brownstones in New York that my boyfriend gave me!

Q: What was the last thing you bought?

A: I went to an antique market yesterday in New England and got three of the cutest vintage Levis jeans for toddlers! The little Levis labels on the back of baby jeans are so precious!

Q: Do you have any fashion regrets?

A: An overall style regret I have is in 8th grade, right when I got braces I also got bangs. I was very into Delia’s statement tees at the time. Not the best combination!

Q: Without giving away your secrets what are your favourite thrift stores?

A: I think the best way to find great thrift stores is by looking at the population of the city. So finding towns where there are a lot of fabulous older women are always my favorite!

Q: Tell me one thing that people might not know about you?

A: I really look up to older women who embrace aging, are so confident and carefree. I always say “I am living for my 80s”; I cannot wait to get old and have grey hair.

Q: What or who is your dream collaboration?

A: The sweater designer Michael Simon! He is another hero!

Q: If anyone, alive or dead, could wear your designs, who would it be?

A: Dapper Dan and Iris Apfel.

Q: What’s next for THE SERIES NYC?

A: More reconstructed pieces, masterpiece denim pieces, a few exciting collaborations and events! They will all be showcased and announced on the website and instagram theseriesny.com & @theseriesny Definitely keep your eyes and ears open!