A Paoli resident’s clothing brand, Soleil et Amis, offers a unique and sustainable take on fashion, writes Diane Oliva for Main Line Tonight.
Started by Fiona Duffy, Soleil et Amis—French for “the sun and friends”—sells a wide range of womenswear products made exclusively from upcycled textiles and discarded fabrics.
Items for sale include dresses made from vintage lace curtains, tops made from antique quilts and placemats, and tote bags made from thrifted shower curtains.
Duffy learned to sew from her grandmother. She later began making her own clothing while she was a student at Savannah College of Art and Design, where she studied Fiber Arts and Design.
The environmental impact of fast fashion inspired Duffy to rely on existing textiles for her clothing designs. One of her earliest pieces was the Doily Dress, a white lace gown made entirely of discarded doilies she found at a flea market.
Now, Duffy sells her handmade upcycled pieces through her brand Soleil et Amis, which offers online shopping through the brand’s website. Each piece is completely one-of-a-kind, and Duffy also takes custom orders to transform customers’ existing clothing into a completely new item.
Duffy shared how important and fulfilling it is to offer her own brand of sustainable high fashion, stating, “I get joy from turning these rejected beauties into something unique and wonderful.”
Read more about Soleil et Amis and the brand’s sustainable upcycled fashion in Main Line Tonight.
_____
Editor’s Note: This post was originally published on VISTA Today in May 2025.
