Today we’d like to introduce you to Kornelija Newcomer
Kornelija, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
I’ve always been drawn to using materials I already had. Whether it was for gifts or personal crafts, I found joy in being resourceful and creative—it allowed me to explore more than just paint and dive into different mediums.
It wasn’t until my gap year in Hawaii that this hobby began to grow into a business. Sadly, O‘ahu’s eastern coastline is covered in bits of plastic waste, or microplastics. I started collecting these pieces and realized I could turn them into jewelry. That’s how my first upcycling business was born- making earrings, rings, keychains, and magnets out of beach plastic and selling them around the island. From that moment on, I was hooked. I realized what we often label as waste can hold so much potential. Being resourceful became my way of staying sustainable, and proving that “trash” can be transformed into treasure has been my creative challenge ever since.
My passion for upcycling clothes began when I studied abroad in Chile. There, I witnessed firsthand where a lot of our discarded clothing ends up. The Atacama Desert has become a dumping ground for unwanted garments. While there, I became close friends with Vale, an upcycling designer who grew up in Northern Chile near the clothing dump. Her deep connection to the issue and drive to change the fashion industry deeply inspired me.
At the time, I had just started painting on my own clothes, so the timing couldn’t have been more eye-opening. Seeing the clothing crisis up close and watching Vale’s dedication pushed me to rethink sustainability and the real impact of our choices. When I moved back to the States, I got straight to work- and I haven’t looked back since.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Doing your own thing is never a smooth road. After graduating, I felt deeply called to upcycle clothes, especially focusing on the end-of-life stage of garments- but since it’s still an emerging field, there were no real job opportunities for what I wanted to do. The job market in general was tough, and I didn’t feel supported or understood by those closest to me. I had to fully trust and believe in myself, even through all the doubt and confusion at the start.
Now, after a year of doing this, and half a year of doing it full-time, I’ve realized it’s an emotional roller coaster. Some days, I feel like I’m absolutely crushing it and then, just a few days later, I can feel totally unsure again.
Running an upcycling brand as a one-woman show is incredibly challenging. Between sourcing secondhand clothes, washing, prepping, and painting them by hand, to growing my social media presence, filming and editing content, planning releases, organizing workshops, selling at markets, managing orders, and keeping everything running—it’s nonstop. Just selling clothes isn’t enough to sustain an income, so I juggle multiple jobs. I’m also a freelance graphic designer, sell art prints, and I work on brand collaborations, custom orders, and educational events to supplement my income. It’s a constant grind finding new opportunities, marketing myself, creating products, scaling the business, and staying organized.
But I’m doing it because I believe in the vision. I know it’s worth it and the results are already starting to show.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I run an upcycling clothing brand called Korn (which is also my nickname, short for Kornelija). Upcycling is the process of taking old or unwanted clothing and transforming it into something new and valuable, rather than letting it go to waste. There are already so many clothes in existence with potential to be reused, yet around 85% still end up in landfills because the fashion industry keeps pumping out new garments like they’re disposable. I take second hand clothes that are in good condition and paint on them to create unique, wearable art. I use high-quality fabric paint and heat-set every design to ensure it’s safe and durable for washing.
But my mission isn’t just to upcycle and sell clothing, it’s to teach others how to do it, too. I believe we’re stronger in numbers. If I can help people shift their mindset around consumption and how they view their clothes, I really believe we can spark real change.
A big part of my brand is educational: I share sew-free DIY videos, upcycling guides, workshops, info about the fashion industry, and free resources to empower people to start where they are. I’m super proud to have inspired so many people- every day, I get messages and comments from people saying they’re going to start upcycling their clothes instead of treating them as disposable. That’s the kind of impact that fuels me.
My long-term goal is to collaborate with bigger fashion companies that are looking to reduce their waste. There’s so much potential in revamping flawed or unsold garments and I’d love to be part of consulting or creating for those efforts.
I’ve also noticed most upcyclers in the space are experienced sewers. Personally, sewing has always felt a bit intimidating, so I focus on offering accessible, paint-based methods for people who want to make creative changes to their clothes without a sewing machine. That’s how I stand out- by giving people a simpler, more approachable way to start upcycling.
What matters most to you?
It really matters to me that people get on board. It’s easy to assume that only big corporations can change the fashion industry—and that we, as consumers, don’t have much power. But we do. Real change starts with a shift in mindset. When individuals begin to value what they already have and rethink their consumption habits, it sends a message. And if fashion brands start embracing this new way of operating, they can make a real impact too. It becomes a chain reaction—one small shift leading to a much larger movement.
Pricing:
- One of One clothing: $30-$100
- Upcycling Guide: $5
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.kornelijaart.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kornelija.art/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@KornelijaArt
