Feminist/Womanist T-Shirts: Every Day is Women's History Month at Nelesc Designs

Angela Davis, Frida Kahlo, Julia de Burgos, Billie Holiday...every day is Women's History Month at Nelesc Designs! These are still available in my shop in various sizes. 

Check them out here! 

Everyday is Black History Month at Nelesc Designs: Angela Davis

At Nelesc Designs, everyday is Black History month. However, since February is the designated month to focus our attention on our African American brothers and sisters, I want to highlight one of the cultural icons I feature in my shop, Angela Davis. 

Also available in brown, red and grey.

Angela Davis is best known as a radical African American educator, activist for civil rights and issues surrounding the private prisons. She knew about racial prejudice from her experiences with discrimination growing up in Alabama. As a teenager, Davis organized interracial study groups, which were broken up by the police. She also knew several of the young African American girls killed in the Birmingham church bombing of 1963.

She is currently a professor at the Unversity of California-Santa Cruz, a job she was once fired from for ties to communism. In 1970, she was imprisoned for charges related to her involvement with three prison inmates.She later was acquitted of all charges. Davis is the author of several books, including Women, Race, and Class (1980) and Are Prisons Obsolete? (2003). www.biography.com

These are minimally reconstructed; crew neck is transformed into a scoopneck and sleeves were shortened.

If you've followed my blog since the beginning, you know that I have written about  Angela Davis before. Here, I talk about my decision to include her in my shop despite people feeling that she is too controversial. Here is where I talked about the documenary I saw with my aunt on Sunday, October 17,  MOUNTAINS THAT TAKE WING. It featured "conversations between Angela Davis, an internationally re-knowned scholar-activist, and 88 year old Yuri Kochiyama, a revered grassroots community activist and 2005 Nobel Peace Prize nominee." It was held at the Brooklyn Campus of Long island University.

This particular image, on the t-shirt, was inspired by Stephen Shames' 1969 photograph of Angela Davis. Shames is a New York based photojournalist.

While on assignment in Uganda in 2000, Steve ran into children who desperately wanted to go to school but couldn’t because they lacked school fees. In Uganda, children often got sent home from school because they don’t have a pen or paper. Steve realized a small amount of money could transform a child’s life. Therefore, a percentage of the sales from this Angela Davis t-shirt goes to Shames' foundation, LEAD Uganda, an educational leadership initiative for abandoned children affected by AIDS, war and poverty founded in 2004 by Shames. I wrote about my partnership with LEAD Uganda here. 

Angela Davis continues to intrigue me as a powerful, outspoken, feminist thinker. As a Puerto Rican woman, I relate to her, she speaks to me and I know she speaks to many women (and men) in this day and age. I honor her today.

Ode to the Puff Sleeve Jacket

Oh, puff sleeve jacket, how I love you...

I have been making puff sleeve jackets for the past two years and I have been loving it!  It all began with this very sloppy Pedro Albizu Campos jacket I made back in 2008. The neck edge was raw and made with only one layer of fabric. It also had no waistband but people really liked it. I, however, did not feel lead to reproduce it. There are certain items I do just for fun, for me.

The original puff sleeve jacket, 2008

But  when people on my facebook fan page started to ask me if I could make them one, I thought, "why should I have all the fun?"  So, I decide to custom make them in 2010.   Using the purple one as a base, I decided to create this one. A cropped version with puffier sleeves, a waistband and a nice two layer neck collar.

Angela Davis Puff Sleeve Jacket

I made a total of 6 in various color combinatins and icons. Here are some pictures I took before I sent them out and pictures I received from happy customers.  

Nina Simone and Frida Kahlo Puff Sleeve Jackets



Billie Holiday Puff Sleeve Jacket 



The Brothers Johnson Puff Sleeve Jacket

These are so much fun to make! But I do have to take a break from them to start on my Spring/Summer line, so you will see them again in my shop in September. My next post will showcase the new improved puff sleeve jacket that I unveiled in 2011.  What do you think of these?

Happy New Year! I'm Back! and with a Nelesc Designs Sale!

Hi ya'll! I've missed blogging so much but decided that I needed to focus on my shop if I was going to make it work which is what I have been doing since July and am happy with the results.

But I really missed blogging and decided that if I was going to do both (the shop and this blog), I had to have a clear blogging direction. So this coming year, I want to concentrate on sewing tutorials and shop news. Everything after that is gravy.

So to start off the new year, I am once again offering my BUY TWO GET ONE FREE sale. I am also offering free shipping with the sale. Here are a couple of new tops up in the shop now. I am going to continue adding new t shirts/tops here and there until I unveil my Spring/Summer collection.

So have fun looking and let me know what you think!

Nelesc Designs Tiny Little Fall Collection

Well, here it is, my tiny 2 piece fall collection. It's really a three piece collection but I still have not had time to photograph the last piece and I couldn't wait. I wanted to keep true to my passion for reconstruction/refashioning/redeeming so these are made from reconstructed sweatshirts. A lot of people really like the puff sleeve jacket which makes me so happy. I have been making various versions of it and it's been such a wonderful process. View more pics in my shop .

                                                          


Puff Sleeve Jacket, $60.00



Asymmetrical Big Collar Sweatshirt, $40.00



These are made to order and can be made with different color combinations and icons. You can check the shop for details. Tell me what you think.

Mountains That Take Wing, Part II

I am so late with this post. I was supposed to do it right after the 18th. Anyway, here are some things that I learned about the movie, Mountains That Take Wing, that I didn't already know.

1- Angela Davis' mom was also an activist, "the seeds were sewn", she says.

2-Davis started an interracial group that met in a church to discuss issues of discrimination and race. When did she start this group, you ask? AT AGE 11!!! Isn't that amazing? How many people are thinking about this stuff at eleven years old?

3- Yuri Kochiyama corresponded with Lolita Lebron while she was in prison.

4- Both Davis and Kochiyama work heavily with political prisoners today and the issue of prisons in general. They educate the public about the business of prisons and the racial discrimination that exists within this institution.

5-Puerto Rican political prisoners were the longest imprisoned group.

I learned a lot more but I wanted to give you a little tid bit. I really hope this movie will be available to the public. I definitely would like to have a copy. To learn more about the movie, go to http://www.reelsisters.org/.

Mountains That Take Wing, Part 1

On Sunday, October 17 I went to see MOUNTAINS THAT TAKE WING, a documentary that featured "conversations between Angela Davis, an internationally re-knowned scholar-activist, and 88 year old Yuri Kochiyama, a revered grassroots community activist and 2005 Nobel Peace Prize nominee." It was held at the Brooklyn Campus of Long island University. I went to see this film with my Titi (aunt) Nellie. It was a wonderful educational experience and seeing it with my aunt made it even more special.

Through the intimacy and depth of conversations, which span 13 years, we learn about Davis' and Kochyama's shared experiences as political prisoners and their profound passion for justice. But we also see a humanity, an intimacy, a "regularness" (if you will) to these powerful women. They were laughing and joking, sometimes struggling for words. Kochiyama was sitting on her bed and Davis sat across from her in what seemed like a revolutionary pajama party I was so blessed to be part of, even if virtually. It was great to see them in this relaxexd setting.

After the show, I reiterated this to my aunt "it was so good to see them in that way, in such an intimate setting." I am so used to seeing these women in posters, t-shirts, MY OWN TOPS AND JACKETS, in iconic stance, powerful, confident. The kind of woman I want to be. My Titi Nellie said, "well you finally humanized them." That really grabbed my attention, "I finally humanized them." She was right. Davis and Kochiyama ARE regular people just like you and me. Regular people have the potential to be activists, to speak up, to advocate. Hmmm. Perceiving these iconic people solely through their images on posters and t shirts does them a diservice. They lived radical regular lives in order to inspire us to do the same.

We watched Yuri and Angela in conversation and this led to my Titi and I having a conversation. My aunt is another outspoken women who grew up in th 60s and 70s. She has always been one of the stronger women in my family, she lived by her own rules, didn't bow down to convention. I always longed to be like her; worldly, knowing, sophisitcated. As we sat down to dinner at a restaurant on 91st, she shared a lot with me. I'm not a little girl anymore so our relationship is more on a peer level now. She was vulnerable and raw. I guess I too made her into an iconic figure of liberation in my life. I romanticized her into being something she in reality wasn't always. She also became more human to me that night. And that's a good thing. Seeing Angela's, Yuri's, and my Titi's vulnerability made me want to strive more too. Made me want to work out my own style of activism and liberation in my own vulnerable, regular way. Now they have become even more powerful in my eyes.

Tomorrow I will talk about what I learned through the film. Some little known revolutionary facts. Stay tuned.

Nelesc Designs and LEAD Uganda!

I am so happy to announce that Nelesc Designs will be partnering with LEAD Uganda!! LEAD Uganda is an educational leadership initiative for abandoned children affected by AIDS, war and poverty. It was founded in 2004 by Stephen Shames, a New York based photojournalist on assignment in Uganda in 2000. "While photographing AIDS orphans, children affected by war,
and street kids in Africa, Asia, and Latin America — Steve ran into children who desperately wanted to go to school but couldn’t because they lacked school fees. In Uganda, children often got sent home from school because they don’t have a pen or paper. Steve realized a small amount of money could transform a child’s life." (http://www.leaduganda.org)./ Thus LEAD Uganda was born.

I have been looking for ways to use Nelesc Designs as a vehicle that would help others in need. Early this year, a choir made up of Ugandan orphans came to my church to sing. Unfortunately, I was not in church that day but my husband told me all about it and through his zeal and heartfelt description, I was really touched. Although Nelesc Designs, is a small, part time business, that experience caused me to ponder ways that I could give back. As I mention in my website, the image of Angela Davis which I screen print on some of my items, is based on the 1969 photograph taken by Stephen Shames. When I found out that he was the Founder and Executive Director of LEAD Uganda, I thought, "this is it! It felt so natural, not to mention, the right thing to do, to contact Steve in hopes that we could create a partnership between our two ventures. Stephen Shames is a world renowned photographer, who creates award winning photo essays on social issues for foundations, advocacy organizations, the media, and museums. He has published various books, and his images can be found in the permanent collections of many museums and art institutions. He is also the nicest guy to talk to on the phone. After exchanging e-mails and phone conversations, we decided to come together. So.....starting in May of this year, I will be donating a percentage of my Angela Davis item sales to LEAD Uganda. Please know that you will be supporting this wonderful, worthy organization by buying Angela Davis at Nelesc Designs.

To know more about LEAD Uganda, click here. To know more about Stephen Shames, go to http://www.stephenshames.com/.

Nelesc Designs 2nd Year Anniversary = FREE SHIPPING!

I was looking at my journal the other day (yes, I keep a journal, nerdy, I know). On September 17, 2005 I wrote "today I have been thinking a lot about starting a fashion business..." September 19, 2005 read, "I am now ambivalent about the whole fashion/sewing business. I wonder if it's really worth it, if people would really buy my stuff, if I'm good enough..." On September 22nd I wrote, "I am feeling more and more comfortable with this duo, art and fashion. I think I want to design t-shirts with inspirational people on them..." It is so strange to read this back and forth. I totally remember feeling scared and nervous about launching Nelesc Designs. I had about 5 tops I had sewed myself and then stenciled revolutionary/famous people on them. Among them were Frida Kahlo, Angela Davis, Pedro Albizu Campos and Diana Ross. I had them around the house a long time until Sunday, May 25th, 2008. It was then, that I decided to just list them on Etsy already before I changed my mind. I then took the boys to my friend Sheila's house. I was so happy to just do it. I remember telling Sheila that I just opened a shop on Etsy.com and we went to the computer to check it out. Right after, I told my big sister and, bless her heart, she was my very first customer. So, go ahead, write your dreams down, even your fears about them. It's so cool to read these journal entries again. I am so glad God gave me the courage to dare take that first step. It's actually the dreams of the people on my shirts that inspired me and the encouragement of my friends and family that keeps me motivated. Thank you all so much!

So....as you guessed, today is Nelesc Designs second anniversary and to honor that, I would like to offer FREE SHIPPING on all of my items starting today until June 25th. You don't have to buy anything to help me celebrate. Just leave me a comment and tell me what you think. I always love feedback! Thank's again.

New to Nelesc Designs

Here are two new top styles added to the shop. The first is a semi sheer purple v-neck top available in S,M,L, and XL and the second is a semi sheer raglan sleeve top available in pink, grey and blue (check the shop for sizes). These are great for this in between crazy weather we are having in New York. One day it's 40 degrees and the next day it's 70 degrees. Crazy! Because they are semi sheer they are wonderful for layering. I am wearing them here with a black tank top. They are also great for those of you who don't like to show your arms even in the hot weather. I know a couple of people like that. Their sheeriness makes them comfortable to wear when it's warm.

Here, you'll see my usual icons. I did make a new screen for a new face but I need to tweak it a bit. I am hoping to finish it this week and unveil it next week. Stay tuned and tell me what you think! I love feedback.

New Sweatshirt Jackets in my Etsy Store

This is soooo long overdue! I apologize for not posting my new sweatshirt jacket pics. These are now up in my etsy store and have been getting some orders for them. Let me know what you think.

I'm Back!

Wow! I have not blogged for over a month and a half! I do apologize. I have not been abducted by aliens or anything like that. I actually have been working really hard on my business, http://www.nelesc.etsy.com/. I have been printing, sewing, listing and promoting on Facebook and etsy.com. It does makes sense to also blog but I just couldn't keep up with it all and I do love the immediacy that Facebook offers. However, there is something so special about blogging and I don't want to let it go. I am definitely committed to posting more often.

A major change that I made the last couple of months was to hire a babysitter for my little D. I realized that I needed to give creating some importance in my life. I was continuously feeling frustrated by the lack of time to sew or print and making things piecemeal was just not cutting it for me so I decided to do something about it and hired a babysitter once a week. That day I would sew and print all day. It has been glorious and I have seen sales go up because of it. Summer sales have been slow, though, so D hasn't been at the sitter this past month. I am taking advantage of the time to think about my fall fashion line and sewing for moi.

I also started a fanpage on Facebook for Nelesc Designs where I offer promotions for just fans and share tidbits about the business. To become a fan go to http//www.facebook.com/home.php#/pages/Nelesc-Designs/96002340477?ref=ts I will be offering free shipping this month so stay tuned.

Here are some items which I posted this summer so far. Some have sold, others are still available.

This is how my summer is going so far, how about you?



Angela Davis reconstructed top. This sold to someone in England!

Julia De Burgos top.

Frida Kahlo top made from scratch from shirting material.

Frida Kahlo dress made from reconstructed t-shirts.

Billie Holiday top made from t-shirt scraps. This one sold.

New Addition to Nelesc Etsy shop

Here are two new additions to my shop on etsy, http://www.nelesc.etsy.com/. These are sweatshirt jackets made of 2xx sweatshirts I purchased. I love them so much, I kept the first two I made! The grey one has a hood and the blue doesn't. Let me know what you think.

Angela Davis Hat on Etsy

So here's a new hat I made yesterday that I just posted on my etsy shop. I stitched an image of Angela Davis on the back. I am now addicted to making these. What do you think?

New Angela Davis Top

I listed this Angela Davis top in my etsy shop yesterday. Some of my friends and family members question my decision to use the image of Angela Davis in my clothing line given the controversial aura that follows her. I love this image. To me this image screams STRONG BLACK WOMAN. I don't agree with everything that she did but I do love the fact that she is not afraid to stand up for what she believes in. We need images like these, I need images like these. Images that remind us of the strength that I/we possess, of the potential that we have to confront injustice. I am not a confrontational person, by all means. I am the middle child, I am prone to keep the peace in any argument, no matter the cost. But when I see strong images of men and women who have won battles that we didn't have to fight, I can't help but feel grateful, re-charged, STRONG. That is part of what Nelesc is all about.