Swelle Giveaway! Win a Supayana Reworked 'Parisienne' Top!

How adorable is this plaid, ruffle sleeve, bow-tie top? It's from Supayana and you could win your very own 'Parisienne' top that's made just for you! Supayana is a Montreal-based clothing line run by designer Yana Gorbulsky. Her one-of-a-kind upcycled pieces have been featured in the New York Daily News, Bust magazine, Daily Candy, Montreal Metro and she was the 2007 winner of Fred Flare's Next Big Thing contest. Supayana has been recycling fabric and clothing for many years and is committed to being eco-friendly in her professional and personal life. She strives to convince others that eco-fashion doesn't have to be frumpy and boring!

Well, one look at her Etsy shop has me convinced that her clothes are nothing but sweetly feminine, original and very smart. To enter the contest to win the Parisienne shirt made in your size - which sells for $59 - please do the following:

1. Follow Supayana on twitter
2. Become a fan of The Swelle Life on Facebook
3. In the comments section of this post tell us how you would style your own Parisienne shirt!
4. For an extra entry re-tweet this contest announcement on twitter!

The Parisienne top is made from a recycled men's plaid shirt and black cotton voile. As the shirt is custom made for the winner the plaid will be different as it will be made from another shirt than the one pictured. The winner will be able to choose their size from XS to XL - bust sizes will be given. If it's a male reader who wins the top we can offer help with figuring out the best size for a gift!

Anyone from anywhere can enter. The winner will be chosen at random. The contest runs until next Sunday, Sept. 27th and the winner be announced on Monday, Sept. 28th. Good luck!

*Before you enter read on to find out what makes Supayana designs so special:

What is that made you choose to rework clothing rather than create your designs with new fabrics when you started your line in Brooklyn, New York?

I think in the beginning it was out of necessity. I was a university student when I first started Supayana and second-hand materials were much more affordable than new fabric. Using recycling materials allows me to use high quality fabrics and still keep a low price point. Most of my clothes are $60 and under so it's quite affordable for something that's handmade, recycled, and made in Montreal. While using second-hand materials is cheaper, it is a lot more time consuming than showing up at a fabric store and buying a few bolts of fabric. I have to make many trips to scour thrift stores and recycling warehouses to find the materials I need. So, even though I save money on the material itself, I actually spend a lot of time sourcing it.

Do you think that the current popularity of recycled clothing is a fleeting trend or a preference that will endure; and do you think it could grow to one day compete with ready to wear?

I'm not sure that it's a trend because a lot of people were doing it before it was fashionable to be green. I think it's become more acceptable to wear something that's 'used', so maybe that's why it's more popular now. I also think peoples' awareness about the environment has grown significantly over the past few years, so a lot of people think about how they want to spend their money. Maybe one day it will compete with ready to wear...I still think we're a long way from that. I'm going to the Ethical Fashion Show in Paris in a few weeks, so I'd like to see what kinds of things will show up on the runway.

You're committed to eco-friendly practices in all aspects of your work and life; what kinds of measures can you suggest to readers for becoming more environmentally responsible?

I think if everyone made a few small changes in their lifestyle it could go a long way to making a difference. Here are three small things you can do to start:

1. Stop buying bottled water. You can buy a cute stainless steel bottle and use that over and over.
2. Try not to buy anything with excessive packaging.
3. Try to minimize your waste as much as possible. Whatever you throw away in your garbage bin doesn't just magically disappear when the garbage truck takes it away...it ends up in a landfill or in the sea!

Thanks for the tips, Yana!

swelle.

You may recognise the model - it's our fabulous Angie from Norwegian Wood!

Comments

[twitter.com/joulesstar]

Love her use of fabrics! I would wear this Supayana adorable plaid shirt, pretty much as shown in the photo above, with a skirt, minus the hat,( although it'scertainly very cute) . I'd probably wear it with my thrifted Justin boots, realisationcreations (of Etsy) earrings, and vintage Bakelite bangles.

[Sasha K.]

It looks so perfect with that high-waisted denim skirt that I'd probably style it that way myself with a pair of cute heels. That, or some skinny, cropped black pants and a pair of ballet slippers.

[Katherine Skaris]

It would have to be a white long sleeve dress shirt with black buttons, and have a red small knotted bow attached to the collar. The cuffs of the sleeves would also have to be rather large (maybe 2x length of regular sleeves).

[Noemie]

I would wear this gorgeous top with high-waisted black skirt, lace print tight and over the knee black boots! And a fedora black hat maybe with little feathers on the sideI love Supayana's deigns!

[Twila Jean]

I really loved the grey and black top, and would probably go with that one so I could pair it easily witha few of my 40s skirts... I think grey and black would make a great staple piece, that could be used quite often dressed up or down.

The shirt is DARLING! I am so excited to enter. I have done all four of them items requested, including a RT: http://twitter.com/exquisitebones/status/4032064602

:)

Thanks!!!!
Twila Jean

[Kim@ The Girl Can't Help It]

I love the moody hues of the plaid, so I don't think I would change that.

Being tall and long-torsoed, I'm always on the hunt for longer-length blouses. Short cropped ones w/high-waisted pants always rocks for a 40's & 50's look, but sometimes I like a long blouse. You know, for those "fat days". :)

Otherwise, I think the blouse is dramatic and charming as-is!

[Retro Chick]

Oooh, how gorgeous.

I'm following Supayana on Twitter and I'm a fan of the Swelle Life on Facebook.

I would wear the shirt with high waisted wide leg trousers, brogues and a trilby for a real 1930s look.

[yahaira]

ooo I would probably sew a high waisted skirt to go with it to mimic her look. for a more casual day, I would pair it with jeans and booties.

[hanako66]

I love her shop!!! The styling in the first photo is flawless...let the blouse shine and keep the rest minimal!

[Kerry Potter]

I would wear it with a pencil skirt and heels :)

[Alana]

I would wear it with a high waisted denim pencil skirt (I have one from JCrew) and patent leather platform heels.

[@Parmie]

Love the design! I'd wear this with
~sailor boy jeans,
~black leggings,
~a black bubble skirt,
~black wide leg trousers or
~ alone ;-)

[Wicked Halo]

Gorgeous shirt :)

I'm following Supayana on twitter...and I've tweeted about the giveaway
http://twitter.com/wicked_halo/status/4076770982

I'd like a shirt just like this onde but maybe instead of gray and black combo, I'd go for this dark pink bordering on the purple with black or grey combo!

[Natasha Rao]

I would totally rock this with my high-waisted harem pants from H&M and some sky high pumps...or my new Christian Siriano pumps from Payless...actually that sounds fab:) I love the tie, great twist! RT on my twitter now! Sharing is caring of course!:)

[Lizzie]

I follow Supayana on twitter @wizfoe and I became a fan of you on facebook!

This top is soooooo cute and I would wear it with these high-waisted paper bag jeans that I have which are wide leg. It would be such a classic beautiful outfit! I really hope i win!!

[Nadia]

i would style this shirt with my high waisted navy blue gap pants..and some pumps ... black maybe ..
a stripedd cardi or my black leather bomber jacket..
so chic!

btw i folow on twitter (@weweredamsels)
and i'm a fan (nadia duran)

weweredamsels@gmail.com

[Nina]

This would look best with a high waist pencil skirt and some gorgeous black pumps! For a more casual look I'd pair this with some leggings or a pair of super skinny jeans.

I follow supayana on twitter as nina0205.
I am a Facebook Fan (Niña Sagarbarria)
I retweeted: http://twitter.com/nina0205/statuses/4337115927

[julie luhtala]

I'd wear it with some super skinny jeans and black stilettos. I follow Supayana on twitter (@jules792000) and became the swellelife fan on FB!

[Ashley Tschudin]

Wonderful giveaway! Thanks so much for posting this. I would style the shirt with a high waisted skirt and ballet flats with a huge hobo bag and statement jewelry. I follow you on Twitter (Cocktailchic) & tweeted about the giveaway http://www.theswellelife.com/swelle_life/2009/09/swelle-giveaway-win-a-supayana-reworked-parisienne-top.html

Thanks again!

[Ashley Tschudin]

Sorry here is the link to my twitter post http://twitter.com/CocktailChic/status/4359720094

[sunchicka]

Paired with a pencil skirt, kneehighs & boots.

[Jo Bryan]

I am a twitter follower @joby14
Joined facebook Jo Bryan 77th fan.

I would maybe have a polo neck black top underneath the shirt, a slim pencil skirt and heels. I would possibly add a very wide belt and top off with a beret.

[Emma]

Tweeted for an extra entry!

http://twitter.com/oceangirl621/statuses/4374662482

[Katherine]

I would wear this gorgeous top with a nice pair of tailored dark rinse jeans, black oxfords and a black bangle.
Thanks for the opportunity!
(Following on twitter - @ktkatherine and fanned on facebook!)

[Katherine]

Tweet! http://twitter.com/ktkatherine/status/4374905231