Friday, November 30, 2007

Warm up to reconstruction

Garage project becomes stylish enterprise

---

By SABINA DANA PLASSE
Express Staff Writer

LaRece Egli recycles cashmere and merino wool for swank winter wear. Photo by David N. Seelig

LaRece Egli has always been a knitter, but now she scours garage sales to find cashmere and merino wool garments to recycle into her unique winter fashion collection, called LaRece Construction.

The one-size-fits-all items include wrist warmers, hoods, three-fingered gloves, hats and scarves, which are all reconstructed from sweaters Egli has found at garage sales, second-hand stores or through donations.

"I cut around the holes and hand wash everything and block out the sweaters to dry, which adds a new fluff to them," Egli said.

Egli said years of dry cleaning have damaged sweaters, and all her products should be hand washed. Instructions to care for Egli's garments are included on all LaRece Construction labels, which are screen printed, signed and dated.

• achat viagra
• acquistare viagra
• comprar viagra

"These are one-of-a-kind and original pieces," Egli said. "It's a garage operation, and I do custom work."

< <

Egli designs her garments with a blanket stitch and there are no seams next to the head in the hats and hoods, which means no scratchiness. In addition, LaRece Construction wrist warmers are great for those who suffer from arthritis or chilly hands and these specialty items are great for covering up unsightly age and sunspots.

"I feel I'm turning it into something that was better than it was before," Egli said. "It's a good feeling.

Egli will give a trunk show at Divine wine bar in Hailey on Sunday, Dec. 2, from 2 to 4 p.m. and at Lisa Veirling's Market on Saturday, Dec. 15, and Sunday, Dec. 16, from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. at 1034 Warm Springs Rd.

For more information, e-mail LaReceConstruction@gmail.com.