About
The Brand
Other Peoples Polyester is a line of clothing and accessories made from a mix of vintage, reclaimed, and designer fabrics from past seasons. In this way, we offer an ethical alternative to fast fashion, an industry that pollutes the environment and exploits labor worldwide. OPP is inspired by Japanese Street Fashion and the colors and silhouettes found in mid-century vintage clothing. 100% Handmade.
The Creative Spark
OPP designer Malia Peoples’ family established themselves during the 1960s. Her parents met, had two sons, and twenty years later, Malia was born. As a child, she was dazzled by the bright polyester clothing worn in old family photos. At age 14, she discovered a forgotten box of her brothers’ childhood clothing, all dating back to the late 1960s. This prized collection of active wear, featuring a mid-century color palette, continues to influence Malia’s work in fashion design.
The Designer
Malia Peoples is a multidisciplinary teaching artist, fashion designer, and ceramicist in Washington and Hawaii. She received a Bachelor’s Degree in Chinese from the University of Washington and a certificate in fashion design from the New York Fashion Academy (NYFA). Malia was on the NYFA faculty from 2007-2015.
Malia's warm style of teaching has graced classes at the Seattle Art Museum, Path with Art, MOHAI, Seattle Public Library, Atlas Obscura, Seattle Asian Art Museum, Coyote Central, Wing Luke Museum and YOUTHcan. She has hosted several workshops in conjunction with the SAM’s Yves Saint Laurent: The Perfection of Style and Future Beauty: 30 Years of Japanese Fashion exhibits.
Her work has been featured live on Art Zone with Nancy Guppy, and Seattle’s KOMO News 4, in regional publications such as The Stranger, NW Asian Weekly, Seattle Magazine, and Seattle Met, as well as on display at the Seattle Art Museum, the Nordic Heritage Museum, and the Wing Luke Museum.
She is the winner of Seattle Magazine’s 2011 Seamless in Seattle fashion design competition.
When Malia is not making clothing or teaching, she makes jewelry at Melted, tools for craft bartenders at McSology, and is a fit model at TCM.