Tomboy 019: Isabella Li Kostrzewa
Isabella Li Kostrzewa is a Brooklyn-based fashion designer, and the founder of Isaboko: a genderless, radically sustainable label crafted solely from repurposed materials. Izzy’s design lens transcends time — resulting in completely one-of-one garments — while their fierce optimism (and tangible action) towards a more inclusive, sustainable fashion industry points directly towards the future. A highly decorated fashion figure since her teens, Izzy’s newest venture is an NYC pop-up that opens on 3/20.
Luckily, Izzy had a few minutes to speak on what they’re up to (and into) lately.
Name: Isabella Li Kostrzewa (they/them)
Age: 23
Zodiac Sign: Aries…. oops
Where are you from + where are you right now?
I'm from a town called Mt. Pleasant, in the middle of the lower peninsula of Michigan. It's really rural and lonely and beautiful; I learned a lot about people that have different perspectives from me growing up there. I live in Bedstuy, Brooklyn now with three great friends.
What do you do?
I make clothes out of materials that have unique histories — old cabin tarp covers, damaged kimonos, socks. My brand Isaboko is all about waste materials, zero waste patterns, and gender-free design.
How were you introduced to fashion/streetwear?
Probably through Teen Vogue? Or maybe the Webkinz store. I was on Project Runway Jr as a kid, so it must have been something I could find at the library.
If you had to compress your personal style into one outfit, what would it be?
Stormy Kromer hat that's a lil too big
Stay Home hoodie, stained as fuck, with red stitching fixing all the holes in the cuffs (courtesy of Mr. Calvin Ogden)
Brown Cargo pants from second street Harajuku Tokyo, by a brand I have desperately tried to research
Adidas Sambas
Green London Fog trench from my dad
Coming 4 Your Neck necklace (by Santo Jacobsson) or Isaboko Bolo tie
You can only wear three shoes for the rest of your life — what are they?
Red PF Flyers
Air Force 1s, with the paracord strap removed, probably in red
Eytys chunky oxford
Style icon: Jake Long (the American Dragon )
Most recent (or favorite) Instagram follow: Eva Noblezada
Three pieces of media that shaped your personal style:
The Sailor Moon girls (specifically Rei Hino)
The Bratz Movie
The fashion show game in webkinz (Supermodelz?)
What’s your biggest creative/career milestone so far? What’s your biggest creative/career goal right now?
Winning the CFDA Re:Generation Innovation Award in 2022. My biggest goal is to start making consistent money selling my pieces…a less vulgar goal I have is to transition into textile art.
What are you currently working on/excited for?
My pop up in Nolita!! It's March 20-24 at 242 Elizabeth St. I got the space by winning “the pitch,” an initiative for sustainable brands created by Parasol Projects. I'm going to be releasing all the products I've been working on for the past six months.
All of the Japanese fabrics I work with are extremely limited, so I’m trying out a new made-to-order system. I’m attempting to see if I can change people's brains from wanting immediate gratification to getting involved in the designing process — choosing the fabric, the metal color, the tag fabric, seeing if it can help rebuild their connection to the process…
But also there's going to be stuff you can immediately buy, don't worry (you freaks).
When do you feel the most empowered?
When I’m telling jokes and they're hitting.
What needs to change in the current fashion/streetwear landscape, to make it more inclusive?
Everyone should learn how to sew
Brands should publish their patterns for 2-5% of the price of the garment, and all the patterns should be graded to at least size 3X
All brands should offer free custom sizing if a customer doesn't fit into them
I was going to say that established luxury brands should have a woman, POC, or queer creative director by 2030, but what I’m actually going to say is that capitalism should fall and all of these brands should be dismantled and we should create a system where all fashion is run by independent designers and sewing communities
Fast fashion should be legally defined and/or made illegal, I think this would help make #4 possible
What woman in streetwear/sneaker history would you like to see get her flowers?
Tracie Jackson(Dine’), is a genius designer who worked with Nike for many seasons. She created a new style of lacing based on the way the three sisters (corn, beans, squash) grow and that design got patented!!