Heritage Quilting, Modern Cuts
Inspired by her grandparents Marvin and Ruby, Arlena Armstrong-Petock is transforming what you would once consider a country quilt into a contemporary ’fit. Her collectsion of one-of-a-kind treasures blends seamlessly into a modern wardrobe. Read along as we catch up with Arlena to find out how she breathes new life into each piece.
Reworking and preservation are a huge part of the Marvin Ruby brand. All of the quilts I source for our quilted sets are “cutter” quilts, which means they are a little beat up or stained and can only be cut up for uses other than an actual blanket. I spend countless hours cleaning and mending these beauties, but even then I still have to work around the rough parts when cutting out pieces for my garments. Using vintage textiles can be complicated and time consuming (not to mention expensive), but the end product is beautifully unique and worthy of the effort.
I often dress in a plain, old monochromatic way mixing both vintage and modern pieces. Throwing on a quilted jacket or bucket hat is the perfect way to add some color into my everyday look. The quilted pants are a fun substitute for sweatpants or jeans, and they mix well with a vintage sweatshirt and sneakers. I love the texture and energy a Marvin Ruby quilted piece adds to any outfit.
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