Designer Showcases Hand-Made Dresses in Farmington Hills Studio

Alexandra Lisiecki loves her Polish heritage, so much so that she is building a business on it. 

Lisiecki and her mother, Barbara, launched Recultured Designs last May, opening a small studio in Barbara's house on Pillsbury in Farmington Hills. It is lined with bolts of fabric, lace and other materials that Barbara uses to make the clothing Alexandra designs. 

Her dresses are a colorful combination of contemporary design mixed with elements typical of "folk" styles. Dresses come in a variety of sizes, including some for children. 

"I came up with the idea a year ago," Alexandra said, noting that she was inspired by Polish folklore and history. "This is my way of inspiring people to get interested in their heritage." 

"We come from a long line of tailors and folk artists," she added. "I guess it's in the blood." 

Alexandra starts the process with a design, which is tweaked as her mother begins putting the dress together. Barbara also has created some of her own designs. 

Clients can make an appointment to try on clothing in the studio, or items may be ordered via the business website. Alexandra advises in-person consultations, to ensure a proper fit. Dresses are pre-made in a variety of sizes. 

"We do a lot of recycling," Alexandra said. "We started using fabrics and laces from vintage dresses." About half the dresses are refashioned from clothing found at estate sales, and that helps keep prices down. Dresses range from $75 to $120, she said.

After promoting her business in the Polish community, Alexandra is now hoping to get her clothing into stores. To learn more, follow Recultured Designs on Facebook or visit recultureddesigns.com.