The Scoop: Meg Busacca, Womenswear & Textile Designer

Need an escape from reality? Let me transport you to a whimsical world of color, pattern, and fantastical florals that only Meg Busacca could dream up.

This lady is dripping with creativity and has some BIG plans in store for her growing brand. Like many of us COVID threw her into a tailspin, but unlike many of us she was able to turn those sour lemons into beautiful masks that are saving lives.

I sat down with Meg to learn about her unexpected journey and get the scoop on whats in store for Busacca. She also shares some of her favorite vintage shops that you are going to want to explore.

Let’s dive in…

Q: What drew you to fashion? How did you get to where you are today?
A: It all started in my childhood home. My mom who was — and still is — very active in our lives provided a safe place where I could be curious and confidently play, be outdoors, experiment, and explore my own imagination.  Another pivotal source of inspiration was undoubtedly my grandmother Beverly Busacca who had her own womenswear boutique for 30 years. I gravitated to her, admiring her outfits, her layered jewelry — I loved visiting her store. She was  polished, intelligent, beautifully dressed, and held herself in such a profound way. MANY hours of my childhood were devoted to dress up, backyard fashion shows, and styling our own movies. I still have a makeshift sketchbook of my first “Busacca Collection” with pages dated 1998 — I’ve never considered another career path.

Q: Describe your aesthetic.
A: It  is strongly influenced by quality vintage, colorfully layered with juxtaposed elements, always rooted in thoughtfulness for our environment. I am certainly a maximalist.

Q: What influences your work?
A: My influences reside on such a wide, evolving spectrum. Sources vary due to my mood, growth and/or struggle, and, of course, what is going in our world. I don’t believe there is a concrete recipe, but rather a set of ingredients engrained in oneself that changes here and there and  can be tapped into consciously / unconsciously to learn from and experiment with. 

We should always be renewing and reevaluating what we consume or who we are consuming information from — this keeps me aware and more in tune with what I put out in the world. That said, my sources will always live in nature, in travel, in film, in food, in painting, in home life.

Q: Why vintage?
A: There is no doubt that I am an old soul. It’s something I can’t explain, and probably won’t ever be able to, but my heart aches for the past. I feel a strong sense of attachment to history and I’ve always desired to learn more about what was rather than what is — you cannot understand reality or foresee any future without acknowledging what lies behind us.

Vintage gives me that special, other-worldly feeling that a new piece of clothing or item simply cannot. It is more precious — it has lived. I always think about the story beyond the tangible — who was she? Where was she going? Who did she meet? How did she feel while wearing this garment? I want to know all of those details of a past designer’s mind and of the consumer. This is not to say that there aren’t some incredibly talented designers offering the same wonderment today, because there definitely are many! But that is the power of what fashion can provide — a rare collision of ideas — the perfect alchemy of then and now. 

Q: How has fashion influenced your growing stationary and art business?
A: I began watercoloring my womenswear designs a few years ago instead of sketching with pencil or charcoal. I personally found it to be the best medium, and the most enjoyable way to achieve the specific details and movement for my garments. This led to an organic evolution of painting handwritten letters I’d send to loved ones. From there, I began showing snippets of my art on good ol’ Instagram and people wanted to buy my stationery!

Being such a perfectionist and also a creative, it can be hard to allow myself to devote time to what I  see as these other outlets. It was a beautiful moment to finally give myself permission to explore this watercolor / stationery outlet in a serious way and not just as a hobby or process for my own brand. It was this small, but insightful revelation, thankfully one my fiancé insisted I have.  

Q:Regardless of medium, I notice a consistency in mix-matching, layering, and patterns. How do you put things together in a way that works?
A: Curation is instinctive. It’s incredibly personal. I am a very sensitive, emotional being, and I believe those feelings and my connection to beauty is revealed in these mediums. It is this blending and balance of different eras, colors, textures, and so on that ultimately are windows into who I am — a complex soul. The key is to truly listen to my gut, to just allow and be aware of what my eye gravitates towards and let those impulses be my guide. It has to feel right, period. 

Q: You’ve made the most of COVID and dedicated your time to helping people stay safe with masks. Share a bit about that experience.
A:  It was March 27th and my fiancé and I were with our dog on our shared rooftop in Brooklyn getting some fresh air and reading the news that morning. Article after article of depressing, heartbreaking COVID-19 stories were in abundance, and I just had this intense reaction and internal dialogue of what can I do to help! It didn’t feel right to be safe inside our home at a time when so many couldn’t be in theirs or with their loved ones. I became overwhelmed with how many individuals were and still are selflessly, courageously helping our world fight this virus. I just blurted out, “I am going to make masks.” I went downstairs, dug through my stockpile of random antique materials I’ve acquired throughout the years and I got on my sewing machine that afternoon. I started making as many masks as I could with the materials I had at home and donated hundreds to those on the frontlines. I began sharing these masks on Instagram and people wanted to order them for themselves, family members and friends. It organically grew and I haven’t stopped sewing masks to this day. Selling them has allowed me to stay in a position to continue donating to our essential workers across the U.S. and I am very proud of that. 

Q: To me your masks are an expression of your style. How did you go about putting seemingly different patterns and trims together?
A: It’s just an intuitive process that has been feeding my soul throughout all of this uncertainty. It really has given me a sense of purpose. It may be small, but there is an instinctual desire to be a part of something larger than myself — to create and offer beauty that surpasses the tangible. I can’t explain the how when it comes to design, I just know what I love while considering others’ preferences, and trying to execute that ideal blending. All masks are made from antique materials I’ve sourced from various independent sellers throughout the world — from fabrics dating back to the 1800s in Paris to a collectors fabric stash in Vermont from the 1930s. I absolutely love hunting for these textiles for my customers and seeing what they react to. It has been a meaningful process to provide them with something extra special during such a bleak time. It has been very moving for me, and I think for my clients too!

Q: Can you share tips for people who want to incorporate vintage (clothes, art or decor) into their lives?
A: Be curious and open minded.  You never know what you may discover or what will strike your interest. A knack for sourcing antique textiles is almost childlike, it is a treasure hunt and a way to just let yourself connect with a physical item. You will, almost always, surprise yourself by going to various antique stores, outdoor markets or to curated vintage shows. There is always a way to recycle, reuse, and repurpose something. Seeking vintage items is rooted in ones desire for something rare, to have something not everyone else has, a piece with patina. This component of creativity is seeded in an appreciation for the past and efforts to think about the future of our planet. Honestly, it should be fun for you, and if it isn’t fun for you, hire someone that has a deep love for it!

Q: What are some of your favorite vintage stores to shop?
1. Gossamer | Los Angeles, CA
2. Madly Vintage | Venice, CA
3. Eveliina Vintage | Miami + NYC
4. Vintage Thrift |NYC + shop them on ebay
5. Vintage by Misty | Pheonix, AZ
6. Desert Vintage | Tuscan, AZ
7. Happy Isles | Los Angeles, CA

Q: What’s next for Busacca the brand?
A: Busacca was on the cusp of releasing its first womenswear capsule collection before COVID-19.  The production company I was working with has shut its doors and most supply chains have slowed. This is such a new reality for all of us to navigate and we are all experiencing the unknown at different degrees.

These challenges have made me stronger, more educated and in turn, Busacca is growing and adapting at an exciting rate. Although my timeline has shifted, I’m continuing development of the womenswear line which will range from dresses to three piece sets, accessories and footwear. All limited edition, small capsule collections incorporating antique materials and hand-painted textiles.

Check out more from Busacca below and if you’re dying for one of her masks send her a DM on Instagram. Trust me you want one of her masks.