In a town better known for its cowboy boots and ski gear, two local artists add a unique fashion perspective.
Bentley Wederski left Wyoming as a teenager, never feeling like he fit the mold of Riverton.
He landed at the Fashion Institute of Technology in New York City, but in 2020, feeling the draw of his Western roots, moved back to the Cowboy State.
Unable to find clothing that represented his identity within traditional fashion binaries, Wederski started a gender-neutral clothing brand called “Utilitarian.”
“I decided it was best to make it gender-neutral, because it really wasn’t something that was being done at the time,” said Wederski.
Although headquartered in Jackson, Wederski primarily sells online and soon plans to expand his sales abroad.
Like Wederski, local artist Courtney Cedarholm breaks away from conventional fashion norms.
Cedarholm grew up in Jackson and has been here for the last 8 years after leaving to attend the Parsons School of Design in New York City.
For the last few years, Cedarholm has been developing her upcycled brand Cowgirl Mermaid—or as she calls it, her “alter ego”.
Cedarholm grappled with the environmental impact of clothing production, so now she only works with secondhand materials.
She designs and handmakes each piece in her home studio.
“I can tap into new trends and different things to make things unique,” Cedarholm said. ”Something that maybe someone didn’t want anymore now gets a new life.”
Cedarholm primarily sells her work online, but this summer will be selling her upcycled gear at private truck shows and at the monthly Art Shop fairs at Dornans.
