We love all of the amazing independent designers out there and we wanted to find out more about what makes these creative types tick. If you do too, check out more of our Indie Designer Interviews.

We have great respect for clever artists who can take something old and create something new and beautiful with it. So of course we love the reconstructed clothing designs of Evy Godwin, creator of Third-Hand Designs and today's featured indie designer.

Tell us a little about yourself and your work. Hi. I'm Evy. I've been sewing for about 15 years and crafting for longer than that! Creating has always been something that keeps my life in balance, and I absolutely love to do it! My Etsy shop, Third-Hand Designs, is my new outlet to share my creative focus of reconstructed fashion. It came about from this love to create in conjunction with my love for the environment and unique fashion styles; you know, the ones that stand out, but still don't scream crazy. Reconstructed fashion, my focus, can be defined as the deconstruction of used and/or vintage textiles into new designs. Very eco-chic, I might add! My work entails lots of cutting, pinning and sewing as well as examinations. Some of my best designs have come from me spending time with a certain item, prior to deconstruction, and turning over in my hands multiple times, laying it against other items and just enabling it to speak to me in some way. All of my items are one-of-a-kind creations handmade by me, with lots of love behind them!

How did you get started as a designer? My start as a designer began when I was only 12, in home economics class! Our teacher would give us patterns of aprons or pillows to follow and send us to our sewing machines, but I of course didn't want to make what she wanted us to, so I would come back with altered aprons and pillows. That's really the VERY beginning of my sewing adventures. As a reconstructed fashion designer, I started out by altering clothing that I loved the color of, but it wasn't my size, or it wasn't a shape I particularly loved, or it needed a higher neck line, etc. Reconstructed sewing was initially a selfish project that fit my quirky style sense and my particular body size. I started to get asked by family and friends to alter items for them, so I thought why not share with the whole world?

What inspires your work? My work is ultimately inspired by the environment. I have an extremely hard time wasting anything, especially clothing! It saddens me to know the amount of waste that goes into traditional fashion designs when there is already so many wonderful textiles out there. One tiny little hole or stain on a fabulous garment does not mean it's ruined, it's just waiting for someone to give it another life through reconstruction!

As for the inspiration behind my designs, I've been told it's classic lines. I do try to make pieces that will withstand the ups and downs of the whirlwind fashion world, because most of us can not afford to constantly be keeping up with all that is new in fashion. Besides, that would mean more waste! My pieces will often have those classic, flattering looks to them and not be too far off the wall so as to help the consumer ease into reconstructed fashion and handmade clothing without feeling so very different than what they've been used to their whole lives.

Who are your favorite designers? I have to be honest here, I don't really follow the big names in fashion. My designs and approach to the fashion world is so on the opposite spectrum as the big fashion designer's names that I often don't even recognize them when I hear them. On the other hand, I do love the couture fashion shows. They are so fabulously quirky!

What are your top fashion & beauty must-haves? My top beauty must-have is easy: sunscreen. And my top fashion must-have would probably be an a-line knee length skirt. There is something so timeless and flattering to the a-line knee length skirt that seems to fit most women's personality types.

Any advice you would give to aspiring designers? The old adage of "practice makes perfect" really, really, really applies to designers. I can't even say how many times I have learned something new from my various hours of sewing. I also would recommend wearing your designs, they are great conversation starters!

Where can people find your work? I just opened my shop a couple of months ago on Etsy: www.thirdhanddesigns.etsy.com. And, I've started a blog to showcase reconstructed fashion where I will often post before and after photos of my creations: www.thirdhanddesigns.wordpress.com.