Few things are as purely American as an Airstream. Jeans are one of those things. Denim is an iconic fabric with a rich history. It’s been a part of our cultural tapestry for almost 150 years. First worn by workers and prospectors, and later by rebels with a cause, denim has since changed the way we view fashion.
Now, an artist is changing the way we view denim.
Meet Amanda Beckmann, the SoCal creative behind ARTBYA, an outfit that takes scraps of discarded jeans and upcycles them into beautiful pieces of art, home décor, and clothing.
Malibu-based ARTBYA creates products ranging from throw pillows to aprons to rugs to purses. Beckmann lives the old saying that “one man’s trash is another man’s treasure,” gaining materials and inspiration from thrift shops and vintage stores. As an artist, she’s a lover of found objects, watercolor painting, collage, and of course, denim.
In one throw pillow design, ARTBYA merges two of America’s sweethearts. Jean pieces of different washes are used to handcraft the Airstream pillow. The finished products all vary slightly (each uses unique materials), but every pillow is lovingly adorned with a hand-cut denim Bambi trailer encasing a letter “A.” The pillows have a quilted look and a stylish vibrancy. Tossing one of these little gems on your bed or lounge area is a great way to show your Airstream love.
Consider ARTBYA's Airstream banner, too. Crafted from reclaimed jeans, this banner speaks for itself. Like the pillow, the denim patchwork styling serves as a backdrop for any iconic Airstream trailer, complete with the letter "A." Across the banner are strips of denim that spell out "Airstream." Hang it in the rear windows or from the awning to make a more public showing of affection for your silver bullet.
ARTBYA also creates one-of-a-kind renditions of the American flag using denim stars and stripes.
The ARTBYA collection is handcrafted in Malibu, California.
Image credit: Doug Young
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