Shoppers who walked into H&M on Fifth Avenue in New York City last week were in for a surprise: They encountered a denim lounge filled with patchwork benches, pillows, chairs, and a rug that could be a conversation piece in anyone's living room. It's the work of Alexis Colby, the self-taught designer and brainchild behind Bit of Denim, a line of reconstructed vintage denim pieces that's been dominating our Instagram feed since it launched, in 2015.
Colby’s denim feels fresh. She'll turn a denim jacket cuff into a choker, design three-tone jeans with fringe detail at each seam, or piece together denim scraps on a bustier to look like stripes. Her work is already a favorite of the fashion crowd, spotted everywhere from Afropunk (on celebrated stylist Amanda Murray) to BET's How to Rock: Denim runway.
So it’s no surprise that H&M got wind of Colby's innovative pieces and tapped the designer to create an in-store installation using denim from the brand.
Her designs, available through custom order, retail from around $50 to $200+, and she's recently expanded to include homewares as well. We talked with Colby about her design inspiration, her ultimate career goals, and the story behind her collaboration with H&M.
Teen Vogue: How long have you been designing?
Alexis Colby: I have been designing for four years. I’m a self-taught designer. YouTube taught me everything I know about sewing.
TV: What inspired you to work solely with denim?
AC: It’s timeless. Denim is something that has stayed relevant for many years and will always be a staple and necessity in a person's wardrobe.
TV: Tell us the story behind the brand name.
AC: Bit of Denim came from my nana. When I launched the brand, back in 2015, I asked her to help me come up with the name. All my ideas were so bad. Bit of Denim just clicked. It’s also on the contrary, because I actually use a ton of denim, not a bit.
TV: How did the collaboration with H&M come about? What has it been like working with the brand?
AC: The H&M collaboration came about last December from a friend of mine, Anthony Christopher. I met him at a "people of color in fashion" brunch a few years back. He works at H&M, and they were looking for a new denim designer, and he brought my name up.
Working with H&M has been a blast. They really gave me creative freedom. The denim lounge has been something I wanted to execute for a while, and I’m happy I was able to bring it to life.
TV: What is it like designing denim clothing versus lifestyle items like rugs, pillow coverings, and wall covers?
AC: With clothing, I have to consider so many factors like trends, seasons, and sizing. With furniture, it’s thrilling and a new challenge. To see my method of reconstructing executed with home decor is so exciting.
TV: Where did you draw inspiration from for the pieces you created?
AC: I have folders on my phone that contain a wide range denim inspiration. Quilting methods, designers, street-style photos, all things denim. I incorporate all of that within my designs.
TV: What are some of your future goals as a designer?
AC: I really want to break into the home decor field. Reupholstering and designing the lifestyle items was so much fun. I look forward to experimenting with more furniture.
TV: What is the denim market missing? How should it evolve?
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