Making Community
Four Pittsburgh-based creatives give back to their community while finding innovative ways to cope with a drastically changed world.
The four-inch swatches of fabric—snippets of inspiration from all over Pittsburgh—arrive daily for Tereneh Idia. The envelopes, mailed to a friend’s studio, contain embroidered squares, oval-shaped patterns, even little scraps of cloth that otherwise might have been tossed out. One is from a woman who has been crocheting while in chemo. Another is cut from material a woman used to fashion her late husband’s favorite pajamas. Using this colorful and inspiring mishmash along with remnants from her own stash, Idia is making a three-rivers-themed garment to build a sense of community.
The designer’s communal clothing piece is one answer to the question: How do you create fashion during a pandemic, when the runways are closed and even designers posting to social media are posed in their sweats?
