What exactly is a born again upcycled creation?
Upcycling is recycling or repurposing something existing. It’s not just one single item that can be upcycled. We sometimes combine garments and accessories to create something unique and memorable. We make something new refashioned from something “old”. We cut and sew to create new, upcycled items.
Did your loved one recently pass away?
We are expert at creating “memory gifts” from their items. We can refashion a shirt, sweater, pants, jacket, ties, robes, dress, suit and more into a unique creation that you can use and admire for years to come. We’ll even personalize the new creation with a name other text in their memory.
See categories below for ideas of what you can expect from your gently used items. Don’t be limited by this list. Challenge us to create something uniquely YOU.
The owner! Who am I?
I myself am a “new creation”. After a career as an Engineer, then actress, then entrepreneur, I have upcycled my last iteration into the aviation industry.
This Shreveport, Louisiana native started her career in the entertainment industry armed only with a bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering, and work experience from fortune 500 companies. As an Engineer she worked for AT&T Network Systems and Andersen Consulting and as a “starving artist” for Hyatt Hotels and a host of other survival jobs.
Although the transition was not a smooth one, TV gained success on the Chicago theatre scene at night as she worked as an Engineer by day. She enrolled in various classes in Chicago to study acting while performing in more 20+ plays on stages such as ETA Creative Arts, Latino Chicago and The Black Ensemble. TV ended her stay in Chicago with a highly successful and critically acclaimed 20th year anniversary performance of Colored Girls at the famous Steppenwolf Theatre before moving to Los Angeles. This anniversary performance was highlighted in a television special hosted by James Earl Jones chronicling the history of African American theatre.
In addition to landing a dozen commercials, her first major television credit was Lifetime’s Jackie’s Back, directed by Robert Townsend starring opposite Jenifer Lewis and Tim Curry.
As a writer, TV has written 2 original feature film scripts. She optioned one with a grad student for production. In 2003-2005, she produced her first stage play, a four woman ministry show entitled STEM. She and 3 other actresses toured the nation with STEM to women’s conferences and churches around the country.
In early 2005, she was approached to partner with her now ex-husband to expand his promotional product company, Already Gear’s base and provide executive management. A serious family illness changed Teresa’s course and destiny moved her to Dallas where she met him. In less than 1 year as partners, this dynamic duo restructured Already Gear by incorporation, added 5 additional full-time contractors and expanded to a fully staffed office in the OakCliff area. They also successfully landed a 3-year contract with DCCCD and added a uniform store to their bustling office space – all in less than 2 years. In less than 3 years, God has blessed their company with gross sales totaling over $1 million dollars and then to a height of over $2 million.
The global pandemic spurned a sharp trajectory of TV’s personal and professional life. In 2021, she split with Already Gear and her husband of 15+ years. Her new path lead her to Southwest Airlines. She was hired as an Operations Agent where she learned to plan the weight and balance for flights so quickly and efficiently, that she became a station trainer in less than 8 months. A few months later she was promoted to Above the Wing Supervisor, leading all agents from the ticket counter to the gates to baggage claim. This new path also gave her the time to put her passion for thrifting and upcycling on the front burner.
At peace with the path her life is taking, TV anticipates working on and with many more astounding people and projects in the near future. She attributes her success to her unwavering faith in God, her savior Jesus Christ and the supernatural favor that surrounds her life. Jeremiah 29:11