Digital Guide: Sav Riley: Factory Reset

Deconstructed Jean Tapestry, 2026

Donated textiles, Polyester thread

“What I didn’t see coming was the community aspect – everyone has jeans…90% of what I do is based on donations. I love bringing in the community.”

The Deconstructed Jean Tapestry is a series of sixteen (16) sections; each section highlights an element of a standard pair of jeans, for example; the waistband button and buttonhole, the bottom hem, mini pocket, or zipper. From section to section, new patterns emerge exposing the structural components of jeans that repeat across brands, fits, and fades.

In conversation with artist Sav Riley, they discussed the detail and function of pulling things apart to put them back together: “This entire show is focused on jeans – I started with separating the jeans into different parts, which took pretty long, but was honestly fun. While doing the deconstructing, you discover how the jeans are made and what really goes into making a pair of jeans.”

In the repetitive and detailed work of disassembly, parallel considerations emerge for Riley; what we learn about jeans as garments (their construction, fasteners, brand details) and what we learn about people (from what they wear and how they wear it).

What did you learn about jeans?

“As I was deconstructing the jeans, there are different material components and blends, the seams, the amount of belt loops, and a lot of certain brands of jeans – does this mean they are good or bad? Some jeans are easier to sew with; the more high-quality jeans are the ones that are easier to work with – whereas stretchy jeans are harder to place, and bunch easy in the sewing machine.” Aside from the fabric and base construction of jeans, Riley also notices the details, “usually, there are five belt loops (two in the front, three in the back), but there are more belt loops on stylistic jeans (grunge, for example), or some jeans use bedazzled belt loops as an embellishment.”

What did you learn about people?

“Some of the donated jeans had stuff left in the pockets: tissues, a receipt, a candy wrapper…or there are pants covered in paint, or half-deconstructed jeans from other creatives – those are cool, the jeans are an idea that I get to finish.” Not all stories, or the remnants of them are in the pockets – there is also an intimacy in learning how jeans breakdown overtime “…like the fabric wears thin in-between the thighs from chaffing, the worn bottom hem if they are longer on the wearer, belt loops from where they pull up their pants, the knees fade. I like when people I don’t know donate to me – it’s a snapshot of maybe who that person was or is or what’s going on there.”

Upcycled Home, 2026

Donated textiles, Polyester thread

In Sav Riley’s definition of upcycling, there is an intake process – all items are split into three (3) categories:

1) Chop: cut it up

2) Keep: upcycle the garment

3) Scrap: save and bin the mangled pieces

From this initial separation, the items cycle through these categories as they transform and take shape – “some of the jeans go back in the pile, and you’ll come back to them.” What makes a pair of jeans good for upcycling? Riley says it is the quality, the fit, and the size. The lower quality and damaged jeans are chopped and turned into materials for future projects. Main priority? No waste here! That isn’t an option. In Riley’s process, there is always room to turn the tiny bits into something new – to reimagine and remake: “it feels wrong to throw anything away, and there is so much that can still be done; maybe it does contribute to hoarding, but it is also ecologically minded.”

When starting the work for Upcycled Home (2026), the process began by sorting the donated jeans by colour wash: light, dark, and medium. Riley noted that as a material, denim and denim blends exist on a wash spectrum – dark could be considered light, depending on how manufactured and organic fading interact. However, even with the best jean care intentions, “everything ends up fading lighter, and there is a brown/beige tint to the fading and wearing of a garment.”

Alongside the material considerations and ongoing deconstruction, the symbol of ‘home’ has been reoccurring in Sav Riley’s work with two thought streams in mind; the act of upcycling (and the playful qualities of reimagining donated clothes), and community – “I’m kind of doing something that feels right to me” Sav says, and in sharing that with the community, they are offering everyone the opportunity to join in: “At art markets a lot of people are like, oh, I love your stuff, but I could never wear that. And I always say that the only person who is stopping you is you. It is important to share and give someone the opportunity to try something different, in that sense – everyone is welcome in the jean home.”

the perfect pair of jeans, 2026

Donated textiles, Polyester thread

When you think of the perfect pair of Jeans, what do you look for?

Everyone is looking for a specific fit, flare, button, pockets, and length. Overtime, these same specifics evolve to fit the people we are becoming, the fashion trends, the weather over the course of seasons. When asked this same question, artist Sav Riley says they make their own: “I own two (2) normal pairs of jeans, also known as the ‘just in case’ jeans. Usually, when I wear jeans, they must have a little something – one of my favorite pairs just has a ton of frayed holes. My wardrobe is all things I’ve made for myself.” 
 
The work the perfect pair of jeans (2026) was inspired by the 9ft Extendo Jeans from Bronze 56k (2018), an extra-long pair of jeans that measured 9 feet long – Riley’s work is a campy nod to unfunctional, but fun, style.  
 
As jeans continue to rotate their fits: the straight leg, loose fit, distressed, high-rise vs. low rise, Riley chimes in: “skinny jean hate is real, they are a sensory nightmare. What could bring them back?” In our discussion of contemporary jean politics, Riley notes a trend towards prioritizing comfort and agrees: “everyone should wear whatever they want.” 
 
The real question is, would you wear this perfect pair of jeans? 

Jean leftovers, 2026

Donated textiles 

Factory Reset Collection, 2026

Donated textiles, Polyester thread 

Models in Image 1 & 3 @thebaba8hassin, @margielaamarting, @jayfayx2. Photography by @chaycevphoto
Models in image 2 Image @sava3ughn. Photography by merima.amirem