Director + Designer

Hand-Me-Down was made possible by the Massachusetts Cultural Council︎︎︎, Brookline Commission for the Arts, and Thrifty Threads at United Parish Church.

Hand-Me-Down is a project on community, collaboration, and collective. On April 15, 2023, it culminated in an interdisciplinary runway show blending music, fashion, and community at a local church in Brookline, MA. Centered on conversation as research, the project uses design to connect people, disciplines, and narratives into a shared moment.

01

The concept was an interdisciplinary art event that came together around fashion, music, and art. I developed a proposal that aligned with the Massachusetts Cultural Counsel and Brooklyn Commission for the Arts’ mission of sustainability, art, and cross community collaboration. I approached Thrifty Threads, a local church thrift store who were thrilled for the opportunity to bring in a younger audience.

02

The church, built in 1900, has stunning Gothic Revival features—stained glass, pointed arches, ribbed vaults, quatrefoils, and a strong typographic presence. Drawing from these elements and DIY punk aesthetics, the identity bridged tradition and modernity, honoring the church’s history and architecture while inviting a younger audience into the space.

03

Promotion

Each flyer set featured multiple visual iterations of the same message to appeal to diverse audiences and aesthetic sensibilities. Promoting the flyers around Coolidge Corner—both in print and on social media—helped root the design in the local landscape, making it feel familiar, visible, and alive within the neighborhood.

04

The open call brought in over 70 volunteers, including stylists, models, choreographers, photographers, and a live band from Berklee College of Music who performed during the runway. 250+ audience members and over 400% foot traffic increase for Thrifty Threads. The success inspired the church to host a collaborative runway show annually.

05

The heart of Hand-Me-Down was the spontaneous collaboration between neighbors, artists, and volunteers. Many met for the first time during the production, uniting under a shared mission. These interactions turned the event into more than a show—it became a collective act of community-building.

06

As a final deliverable, I created a book documenting the full process: from grant proposal to open call to choreography, and most importantly, the stories of the volunteers and community members who made it possible. Copies were distributed to local libraries, the Boston University archive, the church, and the arts council—ensuring the project lived on both as an annual tradition and a resource for future community arts organizers.