REcreate designs

After years of making unique gifts for friends & family, founder Carol Lynn Lapotka began producing one-of-a-kind creations for local art fairs in Wisconsin in 2005. REcreate Designs thrived and became a full-time venture after moving to Missoula, Montana. We were the first to bring the comfy and ever popular “tee skirts,” made from upcycled t-shirts to Montana local markets and area retailers. REcreate Designs now operates just north of Missoula at the foot of the Mission Mountains, and is constantly expanding its selection of trash-to-treasure products. Raw materials are sourced from thrift and second-hand outlets, reclaimed, and repurposed into all of our products—keeping an estimated 3000 lbs of waste out of the landfills every year. 

Every garment we make is one-of-a-kind and made with love. We shop local second hand stores to find gently worn jersey shirts, suit coats, and sweaters. Items are washed and then sorted into which product they are destined to become. This all takes A LOT of time! Shirts are then grouped and matched, cut, and bundled to be sewn. We design all of our own patterns and take great pride in the originality of our products. Kiddo items are designed with a growing child in mind and the adult line is fashion forward and fun. Once cut, we sew everything on industrial sewing machines including our favorite Juki models (Serger | MO 6700, Straight Stitch | DDL 8500-7, and our new Coverstitch | MF7923). After being sewn, items will be finished on the snap press, steamed, and tagged. There are a lot of steps to each product and we love everyone.