Deconstructing Jocelyn

image: C. Anderson for Style Wylde

We first spotted Jocelyn Nguyen's creative and immensely clever collection of women's wear pieces cut from cast off men's button downs and blazers called Nous Savons, at the San Francisco Renegade craft fair, where her original designs which stood out in a sea of silk screen printed tees.  A few weeks after the fair, we caught up with Jocelyn on a visit to her studio space  to talk about everything from artistic inspiration to life in Oakland's Temescal neighborhood.

image: C. Anderson for Style WyldeSW:  What got you interested in recycling and reinventing clothing?

Jocelyn:  My mom made all of our clothes when we were little kids, and I always watched her, and I dabbled in sewing.  Although not with a machine, I still don't really know how to use one, I do all the sewing by hand! I have also been a lifelong thrift store shopper, and started buying things with the intention of mending them, or maybe altering for size.  After that I started buying things and totally changing them.

SW: What was it about menswear pieces that made you want to use them for the collection?

Jocelyn: Honestly, I tend to anthropomorphize things, and when I would go to the thrift stores I  would see racks and racks of disgarded button down shirts and boring blazers that no one wanted.  They seemed lonely, and I wanted to make them into something more interesting, that people would want.  

a boxy men's blazer becomes a steam-punk chic women's vest/photo C. AndersonSW: Ruffles and rosettes, primarily constructed out of garment sleeves appear like a signature on all of your pieces, what inspired this design?

Jocelyn: It sounds cheesy, but I really do get inspired from nature. I love plants and I love taking long walks in the park, and this  is a GREAT neighborhood for walking, I look at shapes in nature and I get ideas straight from that.

SW: So the rosettes are truly inspired by flowers in Oakland Parks?

Jocelyn: Definitely.

SW: How did you end up in Oakland, anyway?

Jocelyn: I am so gonna get in trouble for saying this. I used to live in San Francisco, and I  felt like everyone talked about their art and starting a creative business but no one did anything about it. I love San Francisco, and I go in [to the city] all the time, but for me Oakland just has a better art community, and better weather.

SW: How do you come up with the design a particular piece?

Jocelyn: I have a set design that I use for most blouses and vests, but I do deviate from it if I find something that I love the material it's made of, but it doesn't have the right cut to deconstruct or if it doesn't have long sleeves for the rosettes. When that happens I just bring it home and start draping. 

SW: Where can your customers buy your pieces?

Jocelyn: The jewelry is in a few local boutiques like Shotwell, and online. Right now the clothing is only available at shows, like the Mission Indie Mart on August 16th, because each piece is a one of a kind garment that can not be mass produced. Customers can also contact me directly via e-mail for other options including reinventing a shirt they already have as a Nous Savon piece.

excess length becomes a ruffle on a women's blazer.SW: One last question, we gotta ask, Why the name Nous Savons ( We know in French)?

Jocelyn:  I always get asked that, especially when someone who speaks French comes to my booth. Okay,  (laughs) it is kind of tongue  in cheek, I was thinking about all the companies that have very French sounding names , even when they aren't French. It always seems pretentious. I wanted to have a funny overly pretentious name for my line too. So I thought, how about " We Know" in French, and it stuck.  Of course now when people ask me about the name, the reaction is 50/50.  Some get that it is meant in a fun spirit, some do not, but I guess you can't please everyone all the time. 

For more information on Jocelyn Nguyen's collection Nous Savons, visit her official shop online, or see the pieces in person at the up-coming Mission Indie Mart, August 16th from 12-6PM at Thee Parkside.