UPCOMING EVENT: Midsummer Clothing Swap - June 21, 2025

Hosted by Jackie the Seam Ripper at Bagel Supreme (Rutherford, NJ)

Bring clothes to swap. Leave with style, stories, and new creative energy.

Details at the bottom of this blog.

Meet The NJ Artist Turning Denim Into Upcycled Statement Jackets

Before you even ask - yes, the name is a play on Jack the Ripper.

Only this time, the blade isn’t used for horror, it’s used for for transformation. Pulling apart what no longer serves, and stitching something better in its place.

Jackie the Seam Ripper is a NJ-based upcycling artist with a thing for denim, a love for the macabre, and a mission to make fashion more personal (and way more sustainable). Her jackets are walking love letters for horror fans, pop culture nerds, and anyone tired of fast fashion’s copy-paste energy. Think Coraline. Think Michael Myers. Think, “Holy shit, where did you get that?”

From one-of-a-kind commissions to spontaneous clothing swap events, Jackie’s work is rooted in reinvention.

Every piece has history and every stitch has a story.

The Origin of the Ripper

The name didn’t come from nowhere.

Jackie’s always had a soft spot for horror - the camp, the costumes, the cleverness under all that gore. So when it came time to brand her work, the name hit her like a good punchline: Jackie the Seam Ripper. A wink at Jack the Ripper, but this time, the blade’s doing something useful.

Sewing is very forgiving thanks to my little seam ripper…it’s okay to make mistakes and try again.

That tool shows up in almost everything she touches. It’s not just practical, it’s personal. A reminder that nothing has to be perfect the first time. That if something doesn’t fit, doesn’t work, doesn’t feel right - you can tear it apart and try again.

That’s not failure. That’s the process.

Jackie didn’t go to design school. She didn’t wait for permission. One of her first sewing projects was a quilt made from old jeans that would’ve ended up in the trash. That denim? It stuck. The texture, the strength, the way it already held someone else’s story.

That’s been her throughline ever since.

Denim became her favorite material - not just for the look, but for the challenge. It’s heavy, it’s stubborn, it’s lived-in. And she loves that, because she’s not interested in clean slates. She wants the rips, the rough edges, the pieces with history.

The kind you don’t start from scratch with, you build on top.

That’s what Jackie does. And that’s what the name means. Not just a horror pun or a cute gimmick, but a mission: rip things open when you have to, then stitch them back stronger.

Denim, Design, and Pop Culture Joy

Some people pick fabric based on function. Jackie picks denim because it already has a past.

It’s stubborn. It stretches and resists. It fades in weird places and carries the ghost of whoever wore it last. But that’s what makes it the perfect canvas! Denim’s already lived a life, so adding another layer just makes the story better.

One of my first ever sewing projects was a quilt made out of recycled denim jeans that would have otherwise made their way to the garbage.

That quilt was the gateway. The moment she realized how many stories were hiding in a thrift store bin. Ever since, Jackie’s made it a rule: everything she uses is secondhand. Most of it thrifted, some of it gifted. Occasionally a customer will bring her a jacket they already love and let her transform it - not erase it, just evolve it.

It’s not just about reducing waste (though that matters too). It’s about making fashion feel personal again.

I’m definitely drawn to designs and characters that I love. When thrifting materials, I let the clothes speak to me - pairing designs to jackets is incredibly satisfying.

These jackets aren’t just clothes, they’re conversation starters. And they all start with characters she loves: Coraline, Michael Myers, horror icons, bands, anime deep cuts - the kind of designs that make someone stop you on the street and say “yo…where did you get that!?”

The best part? That connection.

One person sees a cool jacket. The other sees themselves in it. And for a second, they’re not strangers anymore.

Cosplay, Craft, and Connection

Before the jackets, there were Halloween costumes. Homemade ones. Every year.

Pop culture and creativity have always been a huge part of my life. I’ve worn homemade Halloween costumes as long as I can remember.

Jackie didn’t just love dressing up, she loved becoming someone else for a little while. The process, the detail, the pure chaos of hot glue and last-minute adjustments. That’s how it started. Cosplay came next. And with it, a whole new way to show love for the worlds she cared about - not just as a fan, but as a maker.

It was a chance to learn and practice new skills while creating something I get to show off at conventions with people who appreciate the same things I do.

Cosplay was her trial run. The proof that crafting could be more than a hobby. That it could spark connection. And that same spirit shows up in every jacket she makes now.

Cosplaying always felt like the natural progression of showing off my passion for the movies, shows, and games I enjoyed. It was a chance to learn and practice new skills while creating something I got to show off at conventions with people who appreciate the same things I do!

It’s not just about the character or the patchwork or the detail. It’s about what happens after the piece is worn. That moment when a stranger walks past, sees the design, and says:

“Hey man, nice outfit.”

That’s it. That’s the whole point.

My hope is that when someone wears a jacket of mine in public, and someone notices a design from a movie, game, band, or show they also enjoy, they go ‘Hey man, nice jacket!’ - and boom, there’s a connection that may not have been there otherwise.

We don’t get a lot of those moments anymore. The small ones. The ones that remind you you’re not alone in your weird little obsessions. Jackie’s jackets are built for exactly that.

Not subtle. Not safe. Just personal enough to pull someone in.

She’s stitching together connection. One fandom at a time.

Community, Collabs & The NJ Creative Scene

Jackie’s jackets may be one-of-one, but they’re never made in isolation.

I’ve met so many incredible people attending and vending at local events.

This whole world she’s built? It started local. With pop-ups and craft fairs. With folding tables, handwritten price tags, and the kind of customers who don’t just browse, they stay and talk.

That’s where she found her people. Especially through the Crossroads community, a group of Jersey creatives that helped her feel less like an outsider and more like part of a movement. There’s a magic to being surrounded by artists who get it and see fashion as expression, and sustainability as non-negotiable.

I’m working now to collaborate with The Preservation Society Vintage Shoppe and Studio! I’m hoping to use vintage and upcycled materials to create some new one-of-a-kind pieces.

Lately, her work’s expanded beyond jackets. She’s been collaborating with The Preservation Society Vintage Shoppe, cooking up limited pieces made from truly vintage materials. And that partnership’s not just about clothes, it’s about space. Shared space. Creative space.

I’m working on putting together some sewing and other craft classes to host at The Preservation Society…my goal is to help as many people as I can explore their creative side.

That’s the dream. A place where people can come hang, learn to sew, rip things up (literally), and leave feeling proud of what they made.

Right now, that dream is mobile - with Jackie teaching wherever there’s room, from vendor events to borrowed spaces. But someday? She wants a spot of her own. A weird little clubhouse for DIY fashion kids, horror nerds, and anyone who wants to create something that wasn’t there before.

A maker’s space. A misfit’s haven. A secondhand second home.

The Midsummer Clothing Swap

If you’ve ever wanted to revamp your closet, meet cool people, and support a good cause without spending a dime - this is your moment.

On June 21st from 4–8PM, Jackie the Seam Ripper is hosting a Midsummer Clothing Swap at Bagel Supreme in Rutherford, NJ. Bring your gently used clothes, browse what others brought, and walk out with something fresh (and way more interesting than mall leftovers).

The best part? It’s all about community!

It’s a meet-cute for clothes. A low-pressure, high-vibe space to connect with fellow creatives, clear out your closet, and maybe even get inspired to DIY something new. Plus, all unclaimed items will be donated to Strengthen Our Sisters, a women’s shelter doing vital work across NJ.

So whether you’ve got a stack of jeans that need a new life - or you just wanna leave with a better outfit - swing through.

This is your sign.

EVENT DETAILS

🎉 What: Midsummer Clothing Swap hosted by Jackie the Seam Ripper

📅 When: Friday, June 21st, 2025

🕓 Time: 4:00PM – 8:00PM

📍 Where: Bagel Supreme — 284 Park Avenue, Rutherford, NJ

🧥 What to Bring: Gently used clothes to swap

💖 Why It Matters: All leftover items will be donated to Strengthen Our Sisters, a local women’s shelter

Advice, Personal Touches & Favorite Projects

Jackie’s the kind of artist who doesn’t gatekeep. If you ask how to start upcycling or crafting, she won’t hand you a checklist. She’ll just say:

Do the damn thing.

Take a class. Watch a YouTube tutorial. Mess up. Rip the seams and try again. She swears by the Miss Frizzle gospel: “Take chances, make mistakes, get messy.” That’s the heart of her entire practice - learning by doing, fixing by failing.

Everybody’s gotta start somewhere… Take a class or watch a YouTube tutorial. There are so many people out there with knowledge to share. As Ms. Frizzle says: ‘Take chances, make mistakes, get messy!’

Her favorite piece to date? A custom Taylor Swift Eras Tour jacket for a family friend’s daughter. Pure magic. Fully upcycled. Made for a moment that meant something. It’s the kind of project she lives for — sentimental, specific, and stitched with joy.

She had gotten her daughter tickets, and commissioned me to make a Taylor Swift jacket - it was so fun to create something that meant that much.

Outside the studio, she’s just as crafty. Jackie’s an avid gardener, a quilter, and recently picked up stained glass work. If she’s not elbow-deep in denim, she’s probably outside with her plants or figuring out how to turn sunlight into art.

But even with all that skill? There are boundaries.

She doesn’t take commissions for cosplay pieces - not because she can’t, but because the labor is too intense and the pricing rarely feels fair to either side. And she’s done underselling herself. Her energy is better spent on pieces that let her breathe.

The time and effort required to put costumes together is often too high a price for people to pay…I’d end up underselling myself or overcharging others, and that’s not fair to anyone.

If she could host a dinner party with anyone, dead or alive?

Elvira, who embodies the balance of horror and hilarity that I strive to bring to my own life…Mr. Rogers…and Steve Irwin, who taught me that nature should be respected and approached with curiosity.

That’s Jackie in a nutshell.

Part spooky. Part soft. All heart.

Where to Find Her

Jackie the Seam Ripper isn’t just sewing. She’s building a world one denim sleeve, one horror patch, one community swap at a time.

If you want to follow along, snag a custom piece, or just soak up the DIY energy, here’s where to find her:

🧵 Website / Shop

📸 Instagram

More events are coming. More jackets are in the works. And if you’re reading this thinking “maybe I could make something too?” - you already can.

Jackie’s proof that you don’t need permission, a plan, or the perfect fabric. Just a spark. A seam ripper. And the guts to start stitching.

So show up for her next event. For your own ideas. For the weird, wonderful stuff that only you can make.

The rest? You’ll figure it out.