FROM THE EDITORS thoughts

If there’s one constant in life, it’s change. As we grow, we evolve and respond to the environment around us. We change occupations, we try new foods, and our closets cycle through trend after trend. In STITCH’s Reinvention Issue, we’re taking a critical eye to what it means to rebrand and repurpose, what motivates us to change ourselves for better and for worse, and what our own styles might look like in a vacuum.

Our photoshoots tackle different kinds of reinvention: familial, personal, and natural. Our recreations of old family photos show how we both celebrate and diverge from our heritages. The classic makeover sequence gets turned on its head, bringing models from polished perfection to countercultural celebrations of identity. And a reinterpretation of the metamorphosis from caterpillar to butterfly revels in the freedom and beauty of finding a new side of yourself.

This exploration continues in our editorial pieces. Through personal essays on the role of hand-me-downs, hair transformations, and expressing queerness through clothing; pop culture deep dives on controversial pop stars, the intersection of technology and fashion, and representations of transness in TV and film; and creative pieces including poetry and an interactive quiz, our writers break down the concept of reinvention from every angle.

On a more sentimental note, we want to say thank you for reading STITCH. As we look back at our time as editors in chief, we’re so proud of the work this magazine has accomplished and the legacy we leave behind. We couldn’t be leaving it in more capable hands, and we can’t wait to see how STITCH will grow from here.