Meet the designer: Aly Reinert
Threading in Pink: A Vibrant Path to Fashion
Aly Reinert has carved a unique niche with her brand, Untrend Shop. Specializing in upcycled clothing adorned with vintage-style chainstitch embroidery, fabric appliqué, and hand painting. When I first met Aly I knew I wanted to have her work in Art to Ware. It felt bright, fun, and star-like. It was something new and fresh for the shop. What I love about Aly’s work is that her pieces are wearable art with a sustainable twist. I had a chance to sit down with Aly to chat about her origins in fashion, what’s next, and everything in between.
From her earliest days, Aly's artistic journey was marked by a blend of creative outlets, from drawing and painting to dance and theatre. However, it was the allure of fashion design that captured her imagination, viewing it as a medium where art could come alive and be part of everyday life.
Her educational path through textile and apparel design at FIT, in NYC, laid the groundwork for her career.
The inspiration for starting Untrend Shop came from a transformative experience at the New York Denim Days festival, where she customized her own pair of jeans. This moment not only sparked her love for upcycling but also introduced her to chainstitch embroidery, a skill she honed while working at Levi’s as a tailor. Aly's approach to fashion is deeply personal and environmentally conscious, focusing on reusing materials to reduce waste and create one-of-a-kind pieces.
"I truly never know exactly how a piece is going to turn out until I start creating," Aly explains about her process. It's a spontaneous and organic approach, allowing the materials themselves to guide the final design. This method ensures that each piece is unique, reflecting both the personality of the wearer and the creative energy of its maker.
Sustainability is at the core of Untrend Shop’s philosophy. Aly sources her materials thoughtfully, primarily through thrift and sustainable blank companies, and from scraps collected over years of volunteering at Fabscrap. She faces challenges typical of sustainable fashion, such as creating pieces that can’t be easily replicated for other customers, but sees these challenges as opportunities to craft even more personalized works of art.
Looking to the future, Aly hopes to expand the impact of Untrend Shop by focusing more on embroidery events and ultimately opening a storefront. This space would not only sell upcycled garments and offer customization services but would also serve as a community center for workshops and classes, further spreading her love of sustainable fashion.
Untrend Shop is an extension of individual expression and environmental responsibility that Aly is dedicated to. Each piece not only tells a story but also invites wearers to think differently about the clothes they choose to represent themselves.
Find out more about Aly by following her on Instagram @alyuntrend and join her broadcast channel to find out where she’ll be next you can also visit her website.
~ Lesley Ware