About Us
KLA Originals One of a Kind Sweater Jackets was established in 2011 as a design by Kirsten Lia Atkins Sewing Studios (1988). These coats started small with the basic carousel coat and evolved through the years to be populated with the many different designs you see today totally made from up-cycled sweaters.The coats we make at KLA Originals serves more than just a purpose to be beautiful statements of personality, they also hold a deep seed in sustainability and our environment. Fast fashion has caused hundreds of thousands of pounds of fabrics to be thrown into the landfill. Often, when there is an excess of used clothing major businesses like corporate thrift stores will send the non-wanted items to third world countries.
KLA Originals uses all reclaimed sweaters, regardless of the condition to create something new and beautiful. If a sweater has a stain or a hole it is easily sewn around. Even the smallest cuttings are used first in smaller items like hair pins and hats, then further as stuffing for pet beds, accent pillows and ottomans. This leads us to use more than 90% of the original materials including their notions like buttons, zippers and beads.
Our beautiful jackets are sold here and at various music and Art festivals around British Columbia and Alberta. Here are some of the festivals you may find is at:
- Art Wells
- Robson Valley Music Festival
- North Country Fair
- Bear Creek Music Festival
- South Caribou Garlic Festival
- Midsomer Scandinavian Festival
- Vancouver Folk festival
- Nightmare Before Christmas Market
- The Time Travelers Bazaar
Kirsten Lia Atkins
Kirsten Lia Atkins is not just a professional seamstress but an incredibly talented and imaginative designer. It’s easy to see why, her grandfather was a Master Tailor and she quickly picked up the interest at the age of six.
Shortly after high school Kirsten opened a sewing business. after that she started her own label of KLA Originals. Kirsten’s first love is costuming and that led her to making and renting costumes for 20 years. Prior to settling in Kamloops Kirsten spent 8 years living in the Klondike studying the clothing styles of the late 1800’s and working with numerous theater companies and organizations such as Parks Canada and the Klondike Visitors Association in the reconstructions of period costume.
With this experience today she has designed many different beautiful body shaping corsets and her love of colour has led her to the design and production of many different styles of award winning up cycled sweater jackets and dresses.
Kirsten currently attends many Art and Music Festivals in the summertime. Watch for a schedule and see more of her work on her Facebook page: KLA Originals.