Upcycling’s Upgrade
LOTI’S CALISTOGA DRESS IS A HARMONIOUS PATCHWORK OF UPCYCLED PERFECTION.
PHOTOGRAPHED by ELLEN GILLEY, CALISTOGA DRESS by LOTI.
In 2021, I decided that I would stop wearing solely “men’s” styles not because I don’t enjoy them — I love everything I have in my wardrobe and will continue to wear it all with pride — but rather because I was letting my fear get the best of me. The world is not safe for queer people, especially those who dare to defy the strict, unspoken rules of gender. Despite that, I can’t shy away from feeling like my fullest self forever.
I set out on a mission to slowly, sustainably incorporate other pieces that have made me feel incredible, regardless of the gender they were originally designed for. So here I am: barefoot, on an island, relishing in this dress. I know I don’t need to wear anything in particular in order to be queer, that non-binary people present across a full spectrum, but wow, do I feel immeasurable joy wearing it.
I’m over the moon to be sharing more about the brand behind this absolute vision of a dress. LOTI is an upcycling design studio based in both Los Angeles, USA and Lima, Peru. The goal of every collection they create is to divert usable, wearable textiles from the waste stream and turn them into something spectacular. Their current collection is LA PRIMERA PRIMAVERA, which includes the Calistoga Dress alongside other garments.
Each piece in their current collection is designed in L.A. by Lottie, the founder and design director, before it’s sent to Lima to be handcrafted and hand printed by independent makers. They’ve developed, for their other pieces, a unique, screenprinted design in sky blue, pistachio, and a rich chocolate brown. It’s upcycled, it’s small-batch, it’s sustainable… what more could you ask for?
The dress is made up of a patchwork of textiles, both discarded men’s button downs and scrap/leftover cotton from a textile mill in Peru, they’ve recovered that creates a wonderfully cohesive piece. It’s 100% cotton, because I always prioritize natural fibers, and it’s breezy without being so light that it loses movement or structure. It can be tied in a wrap style that ties in the back for a more fitted look (there’s a hole for the strap under the armpit) or as a tie front which gives the dress a far more relaxed, billowy silhouette. For sizing, I typically wear a men’s M in most brands and I’m wearing an XL in this dress.
This piece on it’s own is not a cold weather garment; it’s clear even in the name of the collection (The First Spring). However, I have every intention of bringing this piece with me through the cold months ahead. With the fabric’s weight, I have a hunch that it will be perfect layered both over and under knitwear.
I’ll continue to style it as its own statement for as long as the weather cooperates — preferably barefoot on an island but we can’t have everything — and plan to give this garment the life it deserves. It’ll be the star of dinner parties, coffee shops, museums, meetings, and more. Mentally prepare yourself for this piece to be a cornerstone of my WEAR, REWEAR videos.
I'm so grateful to Lottie for trusting me to create these images with quite possibly the most beautiful garment I have ever put on my body. Here’s to discovering new ways to express myself and to the incredible creative work that sustainable brands are doing to minimize their impact without sacrificing aesthetics.