Photography by Amber O'Shea
Meet the Dublin-based designer upcycling fabric scraps to statement pieces
Tamara Pastoriza of Casa Cor talks sustainability, pulling from what’s already out there, and the brand's bold, statement-making pieces that have been filling up our social media feeds.
My name is Tamara Pastoriza and I am from Galicia in Spain but have been based in Dublin since 2019. My background is in journalism but here in Ireland, I’ve done all types of jobs while learning English and living. Casa Cor started as a dream idea with a friend during Covid. I bought a sewing machine without any knowledge of designing clothes and started trying out things with scraps that I had lying around. I always knew I wanted to do something creative and hands-on but I wasn’t brave enough to step out of the box. Shortly after, people would call me when they were doing wardrobe clear-outs and I did my first market during the summer of 2023.
The ethos
My philosophy is all about reusing materials that already exist but are no longer in production. We have more than enough and it’s so easy and cheap to reach out to it and transform it into something that people are excited about. Most of my materials come from Dublin charity shops and I like to keep every single thing, whether it’s a zip, a pocket or a broken seam. It can be overwhelming at times but I find it very rewarding.
I always knew my true aim in life was to do something with my hands and my creativity. I did think about being a designer but it seemed impossible to achieve, or far from my real possibilities.
My best sellers are definitely the shirts, but I also do a lot of upcycling on trench coats and trousers and they do pretty well too.
The logistics
When I started, I was reusing everything so I had no big spending apart from my sewing machine. I tend to keep everything and give things different uses, so costs weren’t a concern at the beginning.
The best business advice I’ve received so far is to take your days off as if you were an employee and not your own boss. The most useful learning since setting up a business has been to always think about the net sales and not the gross of it.
The brands to know
I’ve recently discovered Martha Mc Loughlin and I love her work. KI-FI is also a Galician brand with great stuff. I also love Rashhiiid, Ríon Hannora and Aisling Duffy. My favourite fashion accounts to follow are Miguel Adrover, Maison Artc, Anna Molinari, and Gimaguas.
My best fashion purchase to date has to be a Levi’s denim jacket that my dad bought for me when I was 14. I have never bought a denim jacket since.
The legacy
My proudest moment so far was when I started working from my studio instead of from my tiny living room.
I want my brand to be remembered as a project that added a solution in terms of sustainability and not just another fashion brand.
If I could have anyone wear my designs, it would be Aby Coulibaly from the Irish scene, and if I have to go international, Rosalía or Julia Fox.
Follow Casa Cor @casacordublin.
Photography by Amber O’Shea.
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