Eco-conscious clothing is becoming more popular, but Pennsylvania’s Michael Masterson of House of Reboot takes the eco title to another level.
Michael was one of the exhibitors in BUST magazine’s”craftacular” section of Maker Faire New York. Not only does he source his wool, denim and other materials from surplus bolts of fabric that date as far back as the early 1960s, he hand sews all the garments himself on heavy duty, retooled sewing machines, some of which are from the early 1900s. So you get reclaimed, re-purposed materials made on reclaimed and recommissioned machines.
Many of the old machines were destined to be melted down into boat anchors before Michael gave them a new life. Michael, a former music producer who also designs all the clothing, taught himself how to take apart, repair and modify his machines. Because of their built-to-last construction and slow-sewing movement, he says the machines are far superior to modern, plastic-housed sewing machines on the market.
His designs are meant to last, too, since they’re made from heavy duty fabric culled from American and European textile mills. While other clothing lines seek to capture the classic, utilitarian looks of American work clothes, House of Reboot doesn’t have to try to look classic because it is.
House of Reboot is about to launch a line of denim shirts that came from fabric made in 1962 for Folsom Prison inmates. I suggested he name the line “Folsom Prison Blues.”(With acknowledgements to Johnny Cash).
Catchy, right?
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