Etsy Seller Profile: Rekoj Design

In a world where it seems as though everyone wants to own the same clothes as their friends and the celebrities are wearing, those who prefer their own unique style are a fresh breath of air. For those unique individuals who want a truly one-of-a-kind item, Seattle-based Etsy seller Sara Everett, the brains behind Rekoj Design, has much to offer. Whether you are looking for a hand painted T-shirt, purse, or some other item, Sara's artwork-embellished clothing is sure to be a great favorite.

Sara has been drawing and doodling for nearly her entire life, though the hand painted designs on her Rekoj Design line came about as a result of boredom during college lectures. As she says, "One professor noticed and commented on all the madness in the margins when reviewing my class notes and told me that I should 'do something' with them." In Sara's case, the "something" ended up being an art show featuring her graphic line doodles. While living in Olympia, Washington, Sara was inspired to start painting her designs onto clothing, and Rekoj Design was born.

In Rekoj Design's Etsy shop, Sara has only a few hand-painted T-shirts and bags, but she is happy to take on custom work for people as well. If you have a favorite item of clothing or fabric accessory, Sara can embellish the item with one of her designs. The designs are simple, line-based drawings, but they really add a lot of interest and style to an otherwise simple item. Sara's "Octopurse" is a particularly cute little bag featuring a simple black octopus on a fully lined purse. It's simple enough to go with plenty of outfits, but it's also a one-of-a-kind piece sure to be a conversation starter wherever you go.

Sara is currently working in a slightly different medium than she has worked before, expanding the offerings of Rekoj Design to woodburned pendants. One of her favorites (and mine as well) is a scattering of cherry blossoms across the surface of a small wooden disc. Each pendant is woodburned, accented with acrylic paint, and varnished for long wearability. Sara plans to begin selling these pendants at Bumbershoot, a Seattle arts and music festival, held during Labor Day Weekend.

In addition to Bumbershoot, Rekoj Design will be selling at a number of live venues over the next few months, as well as through Sara's Etsy shop. If you're in the Pacific Northwest region, you can find Rekoj Design at I Heart Rummage (Seattle) on September 16th, and at three I Heart Indie holiday shows: November 24th at the Seattle Center Pavilion, December 2nd at the Wonder Ballroom in Portland, Oregon, and December 9th at the Majestic in Bellingham, Washington.