A Silver Lining of Quarantine

By Nadia Barnard, 16

Recently for an online school assignment, I was asked to reflect on a silver lining of being quarantined. The whole point is to find ways to make our time inside meaningful and make the most out of a difficult time. While it’s hard for me to stay positive, I was able to take a step back and really appreciate what I have and find things to occupy my time. While others are baking or working out, I find myself up-cycling clothes. I’ve been doing this since my sophomore year, but now I have even more time to design pieces. Up-cycling is also a great way to reduce waste, after all the fashion industry is a major contributor to pollution and the carbon emissions that accelerate global warming. For me, it’s the best of both worlds – be environmentally savvy as well as have an outlet for creativity. In addition, I think every article of clothing has a story to it, and it’s interesting how you can take something that belonged to someone else and make it feel unique to yourself.

I thrifted these jeans in sophomore year and painted them at the end of last summer. Lately, they have been cracked and faded, so I decided to redo the waves. These jeans have been a staple in my closet for fall and winter, and I love wearing them because no one else has a pair.

I recently painted these shorts and I plan on wearing them in the summer. Cow print has been really trendy lately, and I hadn’t seen it painted on jeans yet, so I went for it. This was a fun weekend project to up-cycle a pair of old jeans that I would’ve gotten rid of, and I think they turned out very well.

These jean shorts have a similar story to the ones above. I found some time in between online homework and decided to paint a pair of old jeans in my closet. I can’t wait to wear them when it gets warmer!

Finally, I have my favorite painted skirt. These paintings were inspired by one of my favorite albums, “Flowerboy” by Tyler, the Creator. While the painting isn’t completely accurate, I’m proud that I was able to put my own creative spin on it and make it something I love to wear. 

Overall, I am happy to say I’ve found something entertaining and productive to do during these dark times. My silver lining is creating clothing that I love to paint and wear.