Hand- Me- Downs: An Exploration into the Tradition of Passing Down Clothing
“My grandpa passed away about a year and a half ago. When he passed instead of getting rid of all his clothes, my extended family and I each picked out our favorite pieces to take home with us. It's been a great way to keep my grandpa’s memory with me and it has brought me a lot of comfort on the days where I'm missing him. I love finding new ways to incorporate his pieces of clothing into my style.” - Rebekah Knuth
Hand-me-downs can carry deep psychological and emotional significance. Reusing and sharing items can not only reduce waste, but can foster a sense of connection that makes garments more than just pieces of fabric. The act of passing down clothing is a sustainable practice and a deeply sentimental one. The words above are from my friend, who lost her grandpa about a year ago. The two models featured are sisters Rebekah and Rachel Knuth, who reflect on the emotional connections we can have with clothing that is passed down through generations. This photo series explores the meaningful ties we form with garments—how they bring comfort, tell stories, and embody both sentimental and sustainable fashion.
The photos shown below feature pieces that belonged to Rebekah’s late grandfather, Roger, with a special focus on the brown knit sweater and vintage jersey. The orange skirt belonged to my mother, and the pair of jeans were thrifted from a local shop in New Jersey.
These photos showcase garments and accessories passed down from my mother, including a dress she once wore to my uncle’s wedding and has since gifted to me. I wanted to capture a sense of playfulness and fun through the direction of the shoot. With most of the photos being candids, the only direction was to “dress up and have fun.”The location of my mothers closet holds special significance as it was where I used to try on her clothing, a nostalgic experience I believe many can relate to.
Dresses passed down from my mother take on new meaning in these reflection photos. A vintage shirt/dress and a paisley-patterned dress find new life in this series. My mom wore these dresses in her twenties and has kept them since. At age 19, wearing these dresses makes me feel deeply connected to her.
This photo series was a wonderful opportunity to highlight meaningful pieces of clothing filled with memories. It reflects how clothing can be deeply nostalgic while also being sustainable. Incorporating hand-me-downs into our wardrobes is an act of sustainability and also an act of storytelling. Each piece has a past, and by wearing it, we can continue to create with it. Instead of discarding clothing after a single trend cycle, we can extend its life, cherishing the memories it carries while reducing waste. This series is a celebration of slow fashion, but also of the emotional connections woven into our clothes—proof that sustainability and sentimentality can go hand in hand.
A special thank you to:
Models: Rebekah Knuth & Rachel Knuth
Creative Director & Photographer: Abby Ha
Production Assistant: Katherine Pile
BTS Photographer and Videographer: Anna Mastropasqua
