A tape measure hanging around her neck, Terina Hill holds a pencil and ruler as she bends over her work desk to measure the width of a handbag strap on brown kraft paper.
A 49-year-old woman creates a design for a patchwork hobo bag using leather remnants that were previously destined for a landfill.
“People often don’t realize that when they discard items, such as polyester clothing, they aren’t removing them from the planet—these materials remain here,” Hill said from her studio in Waterfront South,Sustainable Style StudioIt’s currently located in a waste disposal site.
As a responsible fashion designer, Hill’s goal is to utilize eco-friendly materials in crafting leather handbags and accessories. Additionally, she strives to educate Camden locals on sustainable fashion methods.
I just feel like we’re destroying our planet,” Hill says, talking about the millions of pounds of clothing that end up in landfills annually. “If you’re a mother and hope to become a grandmother and great-grandmother someday, you’re concerned about the environment your children will grow up in.
“I take this matter very personally, and it would be self-centered of me to know this and not pass it on,” says Hill, who is the parent of two children.
Hill entered the world of sustainable fashion later in her professional journey.
Having grown up in Newark, Hill attended fashion school at the Fashion Institute of Technology in New York. Following her studies, she created footwear for well-known companies such as Me Too shoes, which are available in stores like Macy’s and Nordstroms, as well as the Children’s Place, a brand specializing in children’s apparel.
She also married and gave birth to her first child, Jordan, a daughter, who is now 21.
Hill eventually relocated to Willingboro. She revived her high-end handbag line, Jypsea Leathergoods, which she began in college but had to shut down to concentrate on completing her education.
Customers frequently mentioned they were seeking more budget-friendly bags. Being a regular thrift shopper, she shifted her attention to purchasing pre-owned leather apparel to help reduce the cost of the bags.
“It was a logical exchange,” she says regarding her position at the beginning of the growing trend of up-cycling.
Later on, she discovered the environmental harm caused by the fashion industry.
For example, as stated by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Americans discardmillions of clothesevery year, numerous synthetic materials, such as polyester, can takecenturies to decompose. There’s also the astonishing reality that it takeshundreds of units of waterto create a single t-shirt, as stated in a World Wildlife Fund report.
I began to focus more intensely on sustainability,” Hill states. “I was ensuring that I was operating in a zero-waste setting.
Soon after Hill created her distinctive designs by transforming leather pants into tote bags, she started to gain recognition from educators and nonprofit organizations dedicated to environmental sustainability.
In the end, Hill earned a master’s degree in art, specializing in design and craftsmanship, from New Jersey City University. During this period, she also met her second husband, Steven. Both were determined to relocate to Camden.
“I had a strong feeling in my heart,” Hill says.
She called her son, who is 7 years old, Camden, in honor of their new residence.
Currently, Hill works as a full-time fashion design instructor at Camden’s Creative Arts High School. At her studio and clothing shop located at 1912 Broadway, she shows individuals how to operate a sewing machine to improve their clothing collection.
People are welcome to come in, not pay a thing, and discover how to fix their clothing,” explains Hill, who organizes a monthly free community repair event where individuals can bring damaged items to be repaired. “This helps keep them out of landfills.
You can also book classesto discover the process of creating items such as leather sandals, African waist beads, and a pair of trousers.
At her shop located just across the hall from her studio, she offers vintage clothing, items crafted by local designers, and leather handbags and accessories from her own line called Jypsea Leathergoods.
Individuals who have met Hill describe her as one of the pioneers in bringing attention to eco-friendly clothing in Camden.
Vedra Chandler, a singer and actress from Camden, has collaborated with Hill during summer camps and has witnessed the fashion designer instructing students of various ages on how to repurpose clothing. She has also enrolled in one of Hill’s leather crafting classes.
I greatly respect what Terina is accomplishing by merging sustainability with fashion at a deeply personal and community-focused level,” says the 45-year-old, who has also participated in one of Hill’s leatherworking classes. “I’m not sure if there’s anyone currently in Camden doing what she’s doing.
Kauthar Sumayyah Calvente, a fashion student of Hill at the Creative Arts High School, mentions that her instructor encourages her to convey her individuality — and consider more than just the visual aspects of the field.
She has explained this to us many times, fashion isn’t just about appearance,” says the 17-year-old senior. “We must be conscious as people who need to safeguard this planet.
Amira Sweilem can be contacted atasweilem@njadvancemedia.com.
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