About us

I’m Gabriela, the founder and maker behind Birdcraft Studio. I create accessories and gifts using upcycled fabrics rescued from Seattle’s small businesses, including fabric off cuts, textile samples, deadstock, and other materials that were never meant to become waste.

My love for sewing began in childhood, listening to the hum of my grandmother’s machine while waiting for the colorful dresses she made for me and my sister. Choosing fabrics with her, mixing colors, adding ruffles. Those early memories shaped the way I see textiles today. Working with fabric still feels like play.

As a Latina maker with roots in Chile, I carry a deep cultural connection to textiles and to the stories they hold.

When I moved to Seattle in 2019 and paused my professional career, I naturally returned to those roots. Around that time, I learned about the massive clandestine textile landfill in Chile’s Atacama Desert, so large it can be seen from space. Understanding the true impact of fast fashion and the textile industry made me want to do something small, local, and hopeful in response.

Birdcraft Studio grew from that moment. I did not want to contribute to unnecessary consumption when we already have enough fabric in the world to create for generations. These materials carry precious natural resources and human labor, and they deserve to be honored rather than discarded. I began sourcing discarded textiles from local businesses and transforming them into few-of-a-kind pieces. Each product is born from what I have on hand, and that limitation is part of the joy because it ensures every piece is unique.

Birdcraft Studio is my way of turning waste into possibility, beauty, and meaningful work.

At Birdcraft Studio, our mission is simple: honor the life of textiles by giving them a second chance.

We believe fabric is more than material, it carries human effort, natural resources, and cultural stories. Instead of contributing to the cycle of waste and fast fashion, we choose to upcycle. We rescue off‑cuts, samples, and deadstock from Seattle’s small businesses and transform them into new, functional pieces that replace items typically made from virgin materials.

Our work is rooted in ethics and community. We value craftsmanship, pay fair wages, and prioritize opportunities for local women from marginalized communities. Every product we make reflects our commitment to circularity, dignity, and a more resilient local economy.   

We transform reclaimed textiles into beautiful, functional accessories designed for everyday use and meaningful gifting. While we’re best known for our ruffled scrunchies, our collection is always evolving with new, gift‑worthy pieces inspired by the materials we rescue. Every item is crafted with at least 70% reclaimed fabric, helping reduce demand for virgin materials and keeping textiles out of landfills.

Upcycling is a thoughtful process: sourcing, sorting, cleaning, organizing, strategic patterning, cutting, and sewing. It takes time, but it’s deeply rewarding. The limitations of working with reclaimed materials fuel our creativity and ensure every piece is purposefully made and rooted in sustainability.

To bring cohesion to our collections, we design with color harmony and consistent details in mind, like the signature ruffles on our scrunchies. This allows each piece to feel connected while still celebrating the natural variation of upcycled textiles. The result is a collection that is visually cohesive and intentionally crafted.