Diana Rodgers

I earned a BFA in Fashion Design from the Fashion Institute of Technology and worked as a designer for ten years. During that time, I sat in many boring design meetings, often thinking about how I’d rather be sewing and making art.

Eventually, I started my own business. As Wonder Threads, I made and sold a variety of products, free from any boring meetings. For nearly a decade, I created and sold intricately detailed t-shirts, which were incredibly labor-intensive to mass produce. It always felt like this work was meant to be art instead of being worn and washed in a washing machine.

Once again, I shifted gears and began teaching sewing to both children and adults. Over the past nine years, I’ve shared my love for sewing with thousands of people. In my free time, I’ve been creating textile art: soft sculptures, quilts, and appliqués. I feel more like an artist than ever before.


Artist Statement

Nostalgia—specifically what I feel nostalgic about—is my biggest inspiration. I’ve always loved connecting with people through memories of pop culture from my childhood in the 1970s and 1980s. I find humor in recreating iconic images with fabric and thread because it’s so unexpected. Toys, desserts, and characters from television and film are my favorite subjects.

Over the past thirty years, I’ve amassed a large collection of fabric, allowing me to create pieces without purchasing new materials. Using scraps and upcycling plays an important role in my work. These scraps add charm, nostalgia, and style to my pieces. I’m happy to know that materials once used for clothing are living on in a new way.

In recent years, my work has transitioned from 2D to 3D. I have found new ways to utilize the pattern-making skills I acquired while earning my fashion degree. My goal is to continue working larger and larger while figuring it all out!


www.dianarodgers.com