The Story Behind The Upcycling Line: Heirloom Reverie

The story behind this upcycling line begins not in a studio, but in a drawer filled with vintage scarves my grandmother left behind. As they joined other fabrics I collected over the years, an idea took shape: soft corsets designed to breathe, honor natural curves, and reflect slow fashion principles. Upcycling in fashion invites us to see beauty in what already exists. Can clothing become a vessel for memory, beauty, and sustainability all at once? If you’ve ever wondered how a story is woven into design, you’re in the right place.

Let me take you behind the seams of Heirloom Reverie.

Where It All Began: A Legacy in Scarves and Fabrics

On every phone call or family reunion, she’d ask me “Et comment va ton cœur?” (French for ”And how is your heart?”) That was Bonne-Maman, my grandmother and confidante, checking in on me with quiet warmth. Two years ago, when she passed, I inherited more than her scarves, skirts, and pants. I inherited her elegance, her love for fine things, and a part of her story.

She had an eye for quality, a fondness for museums and window shopping, and a quiet belief in my work – always saying, “I’ll be your first customer.” My other grandmother, whom we call Manou, is just as inspirational. She showed me the attic treasures of her youth: antique buttons, worn dresses, bolts of fabric, and tales sewn into every hem. One taught me appreciation, the other taught me creation. Together, they shaped me.

After Bonne-Maman’s passing, I opened a drawer filled with her scarves – delicate silks, intricate prints, textures touched by time. As I laid them next to other fabrics I’d collected over the years, an idea sparked in me. What if these weren’t just keepsakes, but beginnings? What if I could carry their story forward, not as a memory to keep, but as a garment to wear?

That question led me deeper into the world of upcycling – not just as a technique, but as a philosophy.

This is where Heirloom Reverie was born – from threads of memory and a desire to design pieces that honor the past while feeling effortless and timeless. I named the first styles Mary-Jane and Ann-Mary, after my grandmothers, to honor the legacy of the women who came before me.

My grandmother's scarves, the heart of Heirloom Reverie

What Is Upcycling — and Why Does It Matter in Fashion?

Upcycling in fashion is the art of transforming existing materials, like vintage scarves, heirloom linens, or leftover fabrics, into new, elevated pieces. Unlike recycling, which breaks materials down into raw form, upcycling preserves the beauty, texture, and story of the original fabric. It offers a sustainable way to reduce waste and environmental impact, while creating garments rich in meaning.

It’s a way of designing that honors memory, creativity, and the principles of slow fashion. Each upcycled piece carries echoes of a previous life, becoming a living memory – not just a passing trend. In a world dominated by fast and disposable fashion, upcycling invites us to slow down and cherish what already is.

Soft Corsets That Breathe: Designed for Women’s Natural Curves

Inspiration and hand-drawn sketch on the tech sheet

I didn’t set out to design a corset. I set out to create a garment that feels as soft and powerful as the women who inspired it. A piece that honors the body – not reshapes it. A piece that breathes.

Corsets have long symbolized restriction, but I wanted to reinterpret the silhouette in a way that felt freeing. The result: smocked bandeaus that mold gently to the body, accentuate natural curves, and move with you – never against you. Each one begins with heirloom fabric – vintage scarves, antique linens, or deadstock rolls – and is reimagined into something elegant and feminine.

The styles are:

Mary-Jane, a bandeau top with a straight, timeless neckline and delicate smocking that sensually kisses your curves – effortless and elegant.

Ann-Mary, a feminine top featuring a heart-shaped décolleté and flowy ruffles that celebrate romantic charm – a nod to my grandmothers’ quiet sophistication.

The technique of smocking offers more than just aesthetic texture; it brings comfort, flexibility, and versatility. Adjustable straps allow you to wear the tops multiple ways – tied over the shoulders, crossed at the back, halter-style, or even strapless. One piece, many moods.

At its heart, this design isn’t about nostalgia – it’s about honoring the natural rhythms of a woman’s body. About creating something beautiful that doesn’t compromise on comfort or values. A corset that breathes – and allows you to do the same.

From Sketches to Silhouettes in Bombarral

Every collection begins with a blank page – sometimes literally. A hand-drawn sketch, a swatch of fabric, a memory. But turning that into a garment requires more than vision; it takes dedication, know-how, and the right partnership.

I found that in Portugal, in a small atelier in Bombarral, thanks to the wonderful Audrey, my fashion guide, who connected me to Ponte de Ponto. There, surrounded by rolling hills and centuries-old craftsmanship, Heirloom Reverie began to take shape — one prototype at a time.

In fashion, the first samples are sewn in white fabric, not yet touched by print or color. This step reveals everything: the balance of proportions, the drape, the tension of a smock stitch. But upcycling doesn’t allow for uniformity. Each scarf, each fabric I chose, has its own history and its own way of draping. That’s the challenge – and the beauty.

Working with the atelier felt like a collaboration across generations: my grandmothers’ materials, my hands sketching and refining, and the skilled seamstresses bringing each piece to life. We tested smocking placements, strap variations, and how each vintage fabric responded to movement.

In Bombarral, sketches became silhouettes – soft corsets made not only to fit, but to live in. No two pieces are the same, and that’s the point. In a world that often seeks sameness, these tops are a quiet celebration of individuality.

From first prototype to last sample, brought to life by Ponte de Ponto

Styled by the Women Who Came Before Me

When we photographed Heirloom Reverie in Bali, I wanted the styling to reflect more than a seasonal moodboard. I wanted the campaign to evoke the intersection of my grandmothers’ cherished home and the natural, earthy elegance of Aurore Being – a blend of memory and modernity woven together.

Many of the accessories used in the shoot belonged to the women in my life: a linen handbag with a wooden handle, a pair of golden hoops, a braided brown leather belt – even the book "Sagesse de Femme" I held in my hands as a prop. Layered with the corsets, they told a richer story – one not just of fashion, but of lineage.

In styling Heirloom Reverie, I realized I wasn’t just designing clothes. I was continuing a conversation – one that started in antique attics and Sunday strolls, and now lives on in the way we adorn ourselves – not just with style, but with story.

Behind the lens with talented photographer David Kristian

Part of a Larger Tapestry: Upcycling Brands We Admire

While Heirloom Reverie is an intimate expression of Aurore Being, it is also part of a growing movement – a quiet renaissance of upcycling brands reimagining the life of materials with heart and intention.

I’m inspired by others walking parallel paths:

• Marine Serre: A French luxury pioneer in upcycled fashion, known for weaving deadstock textiles into sculptural silhouettes that challenge and elevate.

• Romantico Romantico: A Luxembourg-based jewelry brand breathing new life into heirloom pieces through their "Bring Your Pearls" Initiative, where vintage pearls and family treasures are reimagined into timeless modern forms.

• Les Fleurs Studio: A UK-based brand transforming antique lace and textiles into poetic, one-of-a-kind pieces, including a custom dress for Beyoncé, that honor nostalgia and feminine craft.

  
  

Each of these brands reminds me that upcycling is not only about sustainability – it's about memory, meaning, and creating beauty from what already exists.

An Invitation to Wear Your Story

Heirloom Reverie is a collection close to my heart – born from Bonne-Maman’s scarves and brought to life through you. It’s where heritage finds breath again, where upcycling becomes poetry, and where slow fashion turns personal.

This intimate collection invites you to wear your story with intention – in harmony with legacy, body, and nature. Each piece is one-of-a-kind, crafted with love.

Wear your story. Welcome to Heirloom Reverie.