Journal · May 20, 2026 · by Jen Ruiz

Introducing The Thrift Edit

Introducing The Thrift Edit — a new series all about finding and styling secondhand treasures. Come along for the first installment!

Thrifted striped cotton linen maxi dress in mustard, red, blue, and green — the source material for The Thrift Edit Summer 26 collection by Wood and Threads by Jen

Last weekend, after dinner with my sister, we walked into a thrift store to stretch our legs. The store was busy. I saw the stripes from across the room and started toward them. I have to touch a fabric before I know anything about it, and this one passed. I took the dress off the rack and made a beeline back to my sister to see her reaction. By the time I reached her, I already knew.

It was a long striped maxi in cotton and linen. Four colors across the body and sleeves: mustard, red, blue, green. The fabric had weight to it, and the colors looked like they belonged together.

Striped cotton linen fabric cut from a thrifted dress, sorted by color and ready to sew — behind the scenes of The Thrift Edit handmade pouch collection
Four colors of striped linen from one thrifted dress — mustard, red, blue, and green — waiting to become handmade bags and pouches

I have made a bag from a thrifted piece once before, from an old blouse. This time the idea felt bigger. A whole dress, four colors, more than enough for a small collection.

Handmade quilted pouch in blush pink paisley cotton — part of The Thrift Edit series by Wood and Threads by Jen, where every piece is made from a single thrifted garment

The Thrift Edit is a new series. Each drop begins with one thrifted piece, cut down and remade into a small batch of bags and pouches. Every piece is one of a kind. When the run sells out, it does not return.

This first drop is The Thrift Edit: Summer 26. Fourteen pieces from the striped dress. The sleeves became striped pouches. The red and mustard pieces came from the body of the dress: zipper bags, pouches, and a few coin purses.

The launch is Saturday, May 23, at 7 am Pacific.

Handmade striped zipper pouch in green and blue — The Thrift Edit Summer 26 by Wood and Threads by Jen. Limited run, ships May 23.
Handmade striped zipper pouch in muted red — upcycled from a thrifted dress. The Thrift Edit by Wood and Threads by Jen.
Handmade striped linen zipper pouches in mustard, red, and blue — one-of-a-kind upcycled accessories from The Thrift Edit by Wood and Threads by Jen
Shop the collection Shop on Etsy
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