Life & Work with Amanda Jacobs

Today we’d like to introduce you to Amanda Jacobs.

Hi Amanda, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story? 
I have always been interested in fashion since I could remember. My aunt taught me how to sew. In fact, my aunt went to FIT in New York which is where I am originally from. I began my sewing journey at 6 years old, and the first thing my aunt taught me how to make was a scrunchie. Ironically it is a popular activity I share with my current students.

After falling in love with fashion at a young age and growing up in the 90s and 2000s, I was really able to cultivate my own sense of style. I decided to go to college to pursue fashion design and merchandising. I attended the College of Family and Consumer Sciences at West Virginia University and graduated with a BA in Textiles, Apparel, and Merchandising.

After graduation, I decided to move to Arizona so that I could live with my boyfriend, now husband of 15 years, and figure out how to pursue my passion for fashion. Prior to moving, I set up a few interviews at various retailers in order to get my foot in the door. Completely unaware that one of these interviews would change my life.

I arrived for an interview with the handbag manager from Saks Fifth Avenue at the Biltmore Fashion Park. It went very well and she began to ask about my future goals and where I could see myself within the company. She then mentioned that one of their personal shoppers from the Fifth Avenue Club just hit a certain mark in his career and would now need an assistant. They recommended that I meet him and see if it would be a good fit.

This person most definitely influenced how I entered the fashion industry and broke all stereotypes that I had thought. He is a complete magician in his craft of perfectly outfitting a person while staying true to his own values. I worked closely with Gustavo, the director of the club as well as many other personal shoppers and stylists for almost a decade.

The things I learned while working with those incredible fashion professionals have given me immense insight into how I run my own brand and work with clients. A position I will always cherish. I then decided to pivot and lean more into my true passion which was sewing and redesigning. I landed one of the best jobs I could have asked for while raising my family and working on my craft.

I became a fashion educator. I teach career and technical education classes for the Phoenix Union High School District. Being able to engage with young individuals who want to learn something I love so much is incredibly rewarding! So much so I began to teach in a college setting at Phoenix College.

This has given me insight into post-secondary education and the people within the community who come to learn a new skill. I began working on my own brand in 2019, even though I had been redesigning and up-cycle of clothing my entire life. I didn’t see it much as a brand I was really just redesigning things for myself to wear. As more people were interested in the garments I was making it quickly told me what I should be doing.

I began classic reclaim to show people that sustainable fashion can be very stylish and chic. Using ethically sourced materials can be a way to allow textiles to live on. Creating new memories is also something that I feel is of great importance and should be thought about before items are thrown away. I continue to teach both high school and college classes in fashion.

I also work for a zero waste small batch manufacturing facility called FABRIC, in Tempe Arizona, that is changing the future of the fashion industry. Pushing my brand forward while informing people of the fashion industry and all its practices is extremely important to me. I recently became a board member of the Arizona Costume Institute, ACI and I am so excited to dive deeper into the collection and get to know the Phoenix Art Museum.

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not, what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
It for sure has not been a smooth road but I don’t think anyone can ever expect that. There are always ups and downs, and I think it’s all About how you deal with it and who you surround yourself with. Struggles of being one person and wanting to do many things. Finding balance is always a struggle but giving yourself grace when necessary and remembering the why.

Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I think I’m the master of redesign! Self proclaimed, of course. I don’t know it’s just crazy, I can look at something and imagine a completely new thing. It’s like a person who redesigns an old house, and it looks like a complete disaster, but somehow, they can see the potential underneath all the hideous wallpaper. I can do that with old clothing. I can see what it can be.

What do you like best about our city? What do you like least?
I love Phoenix! It is amazing here. Being from NY, I live about 30 minutes north of the city, and downtown Phoenix reminds me of a mini version. The culture, the museums and restaurants. Sports teams and so much to do! My only complaint is how far I live from the Phoenix; I wish it was closer so I could enjoy it more often.

Contact Info:

• Website: Theclassicreclaim.com
• Instagram: @classic_reclaim
• Facebook: @Classic Reclaim
• Youtube: @Classic Reclaim

Image Credits
@hightierphotography
@creativevisualimages
@jeffottocrrative
@creationsbyfritz
@cnpphotography