Student expands new apparel, accessory brand one stitch at a time
Chang said her work with Fashion and Student Trends at UCLA has helped shape Shleggwear, and has even inspired some pieces like the strawberry belt from her first drop. (Courtesy of Sofia Chang) Shleggwear is weaving novelty into wearable accessories.
Inspired to create her own free-spirited style of clothing, third-year arts and architecture major Sofia Chang started her small business and Instagram account in early October. Chang had a childhood passion for knitting and said she picked up crocheting during quarantine because she wanted to learn a new yarn craft. Now, her business revolves around crocheted, knitted and sewn accessories that she designs herself, such as hats, masks and keychains.
“(Shleggwear) is a really organized method of expressing my creativity,” Chang said. “With Shleggwear, I like having this very consistent brand for my work that I can upkeep.”
Before Shleggwear, Chang said her journey with knitting began in elementary school when she checked out a library book with patterns of miniature animals. She became enthralled with them and said she eventually began developing her own patterns. When she was 12 years old, Chang started her first business, Solely Sofia, where she sold these miniature knitted toys. Chang said she took custom orders from people in her town through Facebook and also sold her creations at flea markets but eventually stopped during her sophomore year of high school as her schedule grew busier.
Although she no longer runs Solely Sofia, Chang said she drew inspiration from her former business venture for her collection with Fashion and Student Trends at UCLA last year. She said one of the pieces from the showcase was a strawberry belt, which she sold as a different iteration in Shleggwear’s first drop after adding more hardware for durability. Chang said her experience with Solely Sofia and FAST has culminated in her work for Shleggwear.
After noticing a whimsical style of accessories and clothing that isn’t available in stores, Chang said she started Shleggwear to make pieces with a mixture of patterns, colors and embellishments that embodied her playful style. While it can be intense or stressful at times, she said she enjoys making art for Shleggwear and sharing it with her followers so running the business acts as a nice break from other responsibilities.
“I really enjoy making things that people can wear and show off,” Chang said. “There’s still definitely that same fun, playful quality to them that I really like to incorporate.”
As for her artistic process, Chang said the journey to design an item is spontaneous and starts when an idea sparks in her head, which she then draws in her sketchbook that she carries everywhere. She said she is inspired by the work of tattoo artists, specifically their motif-based art, and aims to incorporate elements such as a bunny or star into future Shleggwear items. — Casey Lee, Nov. 4, 2021
This post is an excerpt. Read the full article on the Daily Bruin website.
HEADER IMAGE: Third-year art student Sofia Chang started her business Shleggwear in October, and uses her platform to sell whimsical fiber art creations from hats to masks to belts. (Mattias de los Rios Rogers/Daily Bruin)
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