NABI is an online store for artists and art lovers made up of thrifted garments transformed into one-of-one pieces. NABI was launched at the tail end of 2020 under a different name and has been continuously evolving ever since. After graduating from RISD’s Painting program in 2020, I began experimenting with crafting, especially crocheting and sewing, while in lockdown at my family’s home in Oregon. After learning many new skills and a healthy dose of trial and failure, I eventually pivoted almost entirely to hand painting and hand drawing on clothing around the house that wasn’t being used anymore. I have long held interest in recycling and upcycling any materials, even in my painting practice. In the spirit of sustainability and cost-effectiveness, I have stuck to a process of curating second-hand garments and then giving them new life by designing imagery tailored to it. Melding drawing/painting and fashion have proven a considerably generative application as it allows me to freely use an infinite bank of imagery while introducing the challenge of considering the constraints of a garment’s shape and how to create an eye-pleasing, wearable piece of art. I find inspiration in almost everything from vintage clown posters and needlework samples to medieval manuscripts and matchbook advertisements. With NABI, I want to celebrate a universal attraction to ornamentation and to create an outlet for my ever-changing visual interests. Every one of my pieces is unique and one of a kind, and I want those who wear my work to feel empowered, emboldened, and expressive in that vivid specificity.