Alchemical Threads

2003-current

A consistent focus of Hubby’s creativity includes the reinvention of garments. Alongside private commissions, Hubby has orchestrated happenings and events, photo installations, and publications that include her refashioned clothing. Often Hubby reimagines and modifies items of clothing from an artist, friend, or a client’s closet based on her vision of their personality, as was the case for the Chinatown Art Community Portraits, Hubby V, and Hubby & Hee Hee. For her Los Angeles neighborhood celebration CoTour, Hubby created clothing inspired by the stops on her party bus tour. For the Double Fantasy project, she collaborated with photographer Mike Slack to create pieces based on each others art. Pictured here are a small selection of the wearables, otherwise the links will take you to the individual projects.

Hubby on the series:

Back in the early 00s I focused on transforming clothes into artful and unique versions of themselves. I incorporated macrame, mirrors, and quilt fragments, free-form abstraction, and used photography or client's personalities as a launching pad for composition and theme. It turned into a thriving business of one-of-a-kind clothing commissions for friends and patrons until I paused in 2008 to follow my inspirations to collage, photography and other artforms. In 2025, I began sewing again and have collaborated with artists and my family in a invigorating way to bring art and ideas back to the body. It’s a way to turn what you might otherwise throw away into wearable art to treasure. Sustainable and collectable!

PRESS: ANGELENO
PRESS: THE NEW YORK TIMES STYLE MAGAZINE
PRESS: LA WEEKLY
PRESS: LOS ANGELES TIMES

Selection below
photographed by Steven Rimlinger
modeled by Cheyann Washington.

Hubby on Suitable: “Day and evening all at once is contained in this silk and sequin appliqué shirt. The piece plays with having a perfectly balanced multiple personality.”

Hubby on Torso's Portrait (after Louise Bourgeois): “This hand-cut loose t-shirt is deconstructed with quilt inserts. I enjoy invigorating quilting and crochet remnants to give garments new and sensual landscapes.” (SOLD)

Hubby on Hedjhotep: “I was inspired to bring a bejeweled armor effect to this sweater to serve as a casual shield for the queen in you.”

Hubby on Soft Sculpture: “This piece has a punk glam aesthetic. The pleather, felt, and fabric strips are salvaged to memorialize my soft sculptures from grad school at SVA in 1995.”

Hubby on Beyond, Below (in homage to Lawrence Weiner): “This piece was a part of a collaboration with photographer Mike Slack, paired with a photo he took of arrows painted on the street. Combined, the photo and the dress were part of the Double Fantasy project.” (SOLD)

Hubby on Straight Line (in homage to Hundertwasser): “This dress is a fanciful, fringed, exotic collage with cut openings that reveal its layers. Wearing it feels like you co-creating a moving mirrored tapestry”

Hubby on Mein Klein: “The crochet medallion inserts on this cotton puffed sleeve dress create unique flesh and fabric vistas.”

Hubby on Lower chakras: “This sensual and casual silk tuxedo ruffle dress has hand-sewn detailing, mirrors, and crocheted butterfly wings on the back. The color red uplifts as the color black grounds.”

Hubby on Self-Marriage Movement: “I imagine this playful dress could be used for one’s low key and stress-free wedding to oneself or another.”

Hubby on Shakti: “This piece features Indian applique hand sewn onto a lightweight wool dress in the modern qipao style. My aim was to intermingle cultures while paying homage to the beauty of both.”

Hubby on Telephone Wires at Night: This men's jacket as been embellished with hand knotted wool accents that mimic the telephone wires in a Mike Slack polaroid for our Double Fantasy project.”