This mom took her husband's shirt he wore the day their daughter was born and made a dress
Sometimes, everyday objects can be incredibly sentimental, based on the memories they evoke. For one mom, her husband’s shirt made her think of the day their daughter was born. So when her husband considered donating the top, Carli Grant decided to do something different with the old shirt — she repurposed the fabric into a dress for her daughter.
A self-taught seamstress, Grant was used to making clothes for her two children with material from a fabric store. But her newest venture combines her passion for homemade clothing with the nostalgia that accompanies sentimental items of clothing. The New Hampshire mom has started her own business, Refashioned Memories, to create new clothes from old items, the way she did for her family.
“I couldn’t believe that was in the donation pile,” Grant told Good Morning America of her husband’s shirt. “I said, ‘I can’t donate that shirt. I have to make something.’” It was her husband Josh Grant’s idea to start a business for creating similar clothes for other families. Carli Grant told Yahoo Lifestyle that her husband works in marketing, so it wasn’t difficult for them to get the business started, thanks to his background.
“The first time he held you, he was wearing this shirt. Now as he holds you, you wear it,” Grant wrote on her Instagram page.
The Refashioned Memories site says that Carli Grant will make clothing for children ranging in size from newborn’s to size 5T. On the website, the Grants suggest sending sports jerseys or items that belonged to a grandparent to be remade into children’s clothing items. The business could be a huge hit among sports fans, since the possibilities are endless. It can also be a way to honor a late family member.
“The stories pull on your heartstrings every time,” Carli Grant told Yahoo Lifestyle via email. “From an uncle who has passed and using his work shirt, a dad who’s in the military and his 4-year-old daughter snuggles his shirt every night, a stepdad’s sports jersey to cheer him on the sidelines. The stories are my favorite part of this whole business; I love hearing all of the special relationships.”
Based on the Refashioned Memories website, it looks like Grant is sticking with making dresses for now. But the site promises that boys’ clothing is “coming soon,” so it sounds like custom-made clothes for little boys will be an option in the future too.
The business is still in its early stages, but it looks like the Grants have stumbled on a niche that other parents are interested in too. Carli Grant told Yahoo! that they’ve received 15 orders so far, and they’ve gotten inquiries about even more orders. Clothes can be way more than just clothes, and the sweet inspiration behind Refashioned Memories is a reminder of that.
Read more from Yahoo Lifestyle:
Follow us on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter for nonstop inspiration delivered fresh to your feed, every day.