Too Legit to Quilt
Columbus, Ohio
Tell us a little bit about who you are and what you do:
Dre: Too Legit To Quilt
Photo Courtesy of Brian Kaiser
I'm Dre, a textile obsessed artist! I began working with textiles in 2008 and switched to exclusively repurposed fabric in 2011 when I learned about the outrageous amount of textile waste that ends up in landfills each year. With them, I create one of a kind patchwork that I apply to vintage jackets, as well as artwork and wall hangings.
Let us know more about your business name - how did you come up with it?
I started off making quilts in 2008 and would spend all my free time quilting. Sometimes when hanging out with friends, we would play games and a friend named our team Too Legit to Quilt (as I was unwilling to set my quilting down even for a second). I loved the play on words so much that I decided to use it for my website and online handles!
What is your signature style / item? How did it become so?
People probably know me best for my jackets. But really, they are just smaller versions of my wall hangings and artwork. The jackets are popular because they give people such freedom of expression, and I hope that they feel powerful when wearing my work.
What makes your business unique to the industry?
I consider what I make art, rather than a product, so I don't really position myself as a business. That allows me to be totally free in what I create, rather than boxed in to make "what sells" or to follow a trend or algorithm.
What's been your biggest roadblock when it comes to business and how have you been able to overcome?
Photo Courtesy of Dre McLeod
Because I tend to position myself as an artist rather than a business, it can be difficult to figure out where I belong when it comes to selling my work. It's really about finding what path works best for me and it is always evolving and changing!
How has your business had to adapt amidst the Covid- 19 Pandemic? What are you doing to navigate the situation?
The stay-at-home aspect has been a gift in some ways, because I'm always trying to find quiet time in the studio and it has allowed that. Selling work is harder but we have to find balance in everything so it's just a matter of figuring out what that balance is. I have had to adjust how I source materials since I only use repurposed textiles, but I have also challenged myself to utilize what I already have.
What is your favorite part of what you do?
I am compelled to create art. It is simply something I must do, and might even argue that I was born to do it. Making something from nothing is truly magic.
What is your *must do* local activity?
The Columbus area is home to many beautiful Metro Parks. They're like little slices of forest and nature close to the city. As a nature lover and born-and-raised Appalachian, I often visit the Metro parks when I need to reconnect to nature and ground myself.
Where to find Too Legit To Quilt:
Online: www.toolegittoquilt.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/toolegittoquilt