Gabby Nease’s obsession with vintage towels first started when she came across a yellow Fieldcrest towel at the Wasilla Value Village.
“I kind of went about it backwards and fell in love with the towels before learning how to sew,” said Nease, citing towels from the ‘60s and ‘70s as her favorites. “They were so colorful and soft back then. I love the sculpted ones and any sort of groovy pattern.they are just full of energy.”
She began buying all the terry cloth items she could get her hands on and sewing them into new articles of clothing. Nease says she had “quite the collection” of vintage textiles before she got her first sewing machine from the Mat-Su Sewing Machine Repair and taught herself.
In March2021, she started an Instagram to showcase her work: Vintage Towel.
“I started by selling via Instagram posts with small collections I was announcing,” Nease said. “I was inspired by how all the earring artists I was spending my money on were doing it.”
When Nease first began thrifting towels, she quickly fell in love with certain brands and designs: her favorite pattern is called Sunflower from the Cannon Mills Royal Family collection.
“In the beginning, I would only listen to ‘60s music while I worked. It was a whole vibe,” Nease said. “I definitely am channeling my grandma in all of this. She was a talented seamstress and my most admired person.”
Nease is excited for “all the ideas I’ve been sitting on to finally come to life this year,” and is working get a website up and running by July so customers can place orders directly online.
Nease, who recently did a pop-up at Rage City Vintage, will be in Palmer at the Friday Fling from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. through Aug. 11. She said selling at markets has allowed her to build out a bigger inventory and get direct feedback about her art.
“I have found that I really enjoy selling in person because I get to connect with my community and see people try on my creations,” Nease said. “It is really rewarding to meet other creators and be able to relate to each other. Everyone is so loving and helpful! Even online, artists supporting artists is what makes the world go round. I love a good trade or even just a conversation.”
Sam Davenport is a writer residing in Anchorage. She's a leo and a plant-person, and loves spending quality time with her dog, Aspen. She is a Real Housewives fan and has been called a Bravo historian.
