S10 Ep6 SUNWORN VINTAGE: Dana Andrews, upcycling creator - on making one-of-a-kind pieces like the Tie Bag, and designing digital sewing patterns so others can sew their own.

S10 Ep6 SUNWORN VINTAGE: Dana Andrews, upcycling creator - on making one-of-a-kind pieces like the Tie Bag, and designing digital sewing patterns so others can sew their own.

Author: Emily Stochl March 9, 2026 Duration: 1:03:34
Pre-Loved Podcast with Emily Stochl
ArtsBeautyCultureFashionSocietySociety & Culture

Today, we're chatting with Dana Andrews — the creator and maker behind Sunworn Vintage, an upcycled clothing and accessory brand, built on the art of reuse and reimagination.

Dana grew up on the Central Coast of California in Santa Maria where she fell in love with fashion early, raiding her older sisters' closets and getting voted best dressed in high school. She learned to sew in a clothing and fashion elective she took all four years of high school, and she loved it so much she'd stay in the classroom through lunch just to keep working.

Always creative with a couple of side hustles, Dana found her way back to sewing amidst the pandemic. She bought a pre-loved sewing machine of KSL, and Sunworn Vintage was born.

Now, it's her full-time dream job. She creates one-of-a-kind pieces from vintage and thrifted textiles, offers custom orders, runs monthly website restocks, and has stepped into something she never expected: designing digital sewing patterns so others can make their own Sunworn creations at home.

Her first pattern was for a bag made entirely from neckties —and we get into the whole story on today's show. This one is truly for the makers, the thrifters, and everyone who's ever looked at a pile of men's ties at Goodwill and thought — wait, what if? And keep your eyes peeled, because Sunworn's next pattern is coming very soon – sneak peek on today's show.

Let's dive in!

DISCUSSED IN THE EPISODE:

  • [5:57] How Dana got into thrifting as a teen.
  • [9:26] Her love of estates sales — and why she'd go even if she found nothing
  • [11:25] Learning to sew in high school
  • [18:27] How Dana found her way back to sewing amidst the pandemic when she bought a secondhand sewing machine.
  • [22:24] The early days of the upcycling business, and how it has changed in the last six years.
  • [27:35] She never expected to be designing digital sewing patterns for others to create at home.
  • [29:28] The thrift store inspired the idea of the Tie Bag
  • [37:48] The response to the Tie Bag pattern — and how passive income changed her business
  • [39:54] Working on her second digital pattern
  • [45:46] Pitching Sunworn Vintage to Mildew Magazine
  • [51:57] Dana's personal style and holy grail thrift finds

EPISODE MENTIONS: 

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SPECIAL THANKS: 

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Every week, Emily Stochl invites you into a conversation that goes far beyond the clothing rack. Pre-Loved Podcast with Emily Stochl is built on the idea that every second-hand garment has a past, and that exploring those histories makes our present style more meaningful. Rather than just offering shopping tips, each episode feels like sitting down with a fascinating friend who shares your passion for vintage, digging into the many layers of what it means to wear pre-owned fashion. You’ll hear from a diverse range of guests-from collectors and stylists to entrepreneurs and historians-as they explore not only personal style but also the practicalities of running a resale business, the complexities of the global second-hand market, and the environmental ethos behind choosing used over new. The heart of this podcast lives in those incredible stories: the serendipitous flea market find, the garment that carries a decade of memories, or the simple, powerful act of giving a piece a new life. Emily guides these discussions with genuine curiosity, making each topic accessible whether you're a seasoned thrifter or just curious about sustainable fashion. It’s a thoughtful, engaging look at how what we wear connects to culture, art, beauty, and the kind of mindful consumption that can reshape an industry. Tune in for a fresh perspective that celebrates the character, sustainability, and deep personal connection found in pre-loved fashion.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 313

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