Peachfuzz Parsnips minimizes textile waste through genderless clothing

Lucky bamboo and tiny succulents growing in recycled bean cans stand tall in sunshine rays along the edge of the craft table. Indie rock music and swaying folk songs, like “Bobby” by Alex G, fill the space while Jenna scours through a pile of rummaged fabrics picked up from MECCA, Eugene’s Materials Exchange Community Center for Arts, where pay-what-you-can is offered for crafters and educators on a budget. Some materials came from previously worn thrift store garments or bought on an inspiration high at Joann’s Fabric store. A brown-furred, lop-eared bunny named Benny stretches across the fabric cutting mat. After finding the perfect print, Jenna’s fingers adjust the knobs on the white sewing machine and a right foot slowly pushes down on the pedal to activate the needle and thread dancing along the burnt orange ginkgo-leaf print fabric. In this warmly lit witch’s cavern, boiling pots of herbs, flowers and water organically dye fabrics on the stove. While Jenna may deny it, there is definitely a method to their madness that is far more organized than most other crafters.

The first thing Jenna ever made was a crocheted purple octopus for a cousin’s friend who insisted on paying real money for a high schooler’s art. Then they began making cropped-top tees, which once sparked a stranger’s eye to the point of asking where Jenna got their shirt because they wanted one too. Right there on the spot, Jenna sold their handmade cropped top right off their back for a quick twenty bucks. Being complimented on an outfit hits differently when Jenna gets to say “I made it” with a glowing smile.

Jenna Burns, 25, is a graduating senior at the University of Oregon whose interests in artistic creations coincide with their environmental concerns, but above all else, they are the kind of person anyone can meet and feel like they’ve known each other forever. Their warm energy, openness, curiosity and compassion isolate Jenna as one of a kind. Their experience exploring their gender identity alongside their thirst for knowledge in environmental studies and sciences provides a unique lens as a queer young adult in the art scene of Eugene.

This self-proclaimed fabric forager started their Etsy brand and Instagram portfolio with “Peachfuzz Panties” but quickly changed to flaunting “Parsnips” instead of just selling handmade underwear. Jenna is proficient in more art forms than hand-sewing original undergarments, and they wanted a brand that reflected their versatile and free-flowing creativity. No matter the creation, one trait stays consistent: every piece of clothing Jenna sews or upcycles is gender nonconforming, meaning they “would never make ‘men’s’ or ‘women’s’ clothing.” Any body, regardless of gender, can find something fitting and flattering. Many items will be showcased at their booth at this year’s Whiteaker Community Market in Eugene on Sundays starting in May and running through mid-October.

Quite literally dressed in all green from head to toe starting with a relaxed, faded neon buzz cut for St. Patrick’s Day, Garrett Reagan, a 23-year-old senior at the UO, recalls the first time he modeled for Jenna’s clothing brand. He also takes pride in helping Jenna find “parsnips” for the brand name to reflect “keeping it organic” through Jenna’s fabric and yarn dying practices.

Indie pop bops fuel the gasping-for-air laughter in between throwing leaves in the air and capturing photos while Garrett and another model, Sammy, dance around in a grassy backyard. Their inner-children roar while running freely in Jenna’s cheetah-print biker shorts, indulging in the natural space around them while having fun in creating something so positive.

The first outfit Garrett modeled for Jenna included a high-waisted, form-fitting biker-short that rested a few inches above the knee, decorated in moths and butterflies. To Garrett’s dismay, these were unfortunately sold at the time of modeling but were to no surprise due to how cute they are.

Another favorite set that Garrett modeled was a bandeau top– a tube-top shirt that stretches across the chest– and high-waisted underwear made out of breathable, stretchy, light-peach-colored fabric with white and black ginkgo leaves. As opposed to a lower waistline where butts try to slip out, these styles allow for all bellies and privates to rest securely inside.

“Some people call certain kinds of underwear ‘boy briefs’,” Jenna laughed. “But they’re just fucking briefs.”

“Jenna is pushing the norms of what masc. presenting people can wear. It was really empowering for me to feel like I can be my best self in something a ‘man’ wouldn’t typically wear,” Garrett said.

It’s also important that these panties bring joy during someone’s monthly bleed. For many non-cis people (those who do not align with their assigned gender at birth), who experience menstruation, periods can be triggering, traumatic and difficult as compared to someone who identifies with their body that menstruates.

“I love- hate periods,” Jenna said. “I wanted to make things that make me love my period and not hate it.”

Jenna explores queerness and their own gender experience through observing the natural world. From their environmental studies focused on education, they describe learning about male cuttlefish’s abilities to change from male to female coloring during mating rituals. Nature’s deviance contrasted with society’s patriarchal norms that pressure individuals to behave within binaries inspires Jenna, including how some plants and flowers have “both parts” and can pollinate themselves.

“They’re considered the perfect flowers, and it reminded me of non-binary and trans people. We are the perfect flowers. I see myself in trees, in flowers, in frogs, in worms and slugs.”

Jenna’s adoption of a queer ecological lens provides a perspective that breaks up dualistic understandings of nature, sexuality and science that differ from traditionally accepted human-centric and heteronormative ideologies. This point of view takes into account the many species that divert away from societal stereotypes and normalized behaviors of gendered roles; male seahorses carrying spawn rather than females serve as a classical example.

Through a queer ecological lens, Jenna creates art that honors nature and all of its complexities by bringing these admirations into their process. Many eye-catching designs include nature-inspired patterns, like biker shorts adorned in bold red poppies and simple, navy blue bralettes decorated in subtle dragonflies and other insects. They even make hand-sewn bright floral aprons to welcome the spring season.

“What Jenna says about seeing themself in nature and slugs is reflected in the way they wanted us to model. Modeling for them was like being a part of that fluid nature and ambiguity that they present in themself and their art,” said Garrett.

Evelyn Tedrick, 24, met Jenna prior to the pandemic when she joined a student-produced magazine. She recalls Jenna being new to the club as well but presented in a way that was so friendly and honest that she initially thought Jenna already knew everyone there.

Evelyn also modeled for Jenna and takes pride in helping inspire the “peach fuzz” side of the brand, as well as supporting Jenna to pursue selling the original panties on Etsy. She recalls embracing the goofy side of modeling where Jenna encouraged her to embody a fictional character in the process with silly accents and endless laughter. Evelyn later learned that her name was used to honor one of the items she modeled.

Both Evelyn and Garrett accompanied Jenna during their first booth experience at the Whiteaker Community Market and watched Jenna glow in this setting amongst other creatives.

“Your mundane currency is nothing compared to what the vendors can trade,” Evelyn said.

Supporting artists as another artist can help build a stronger local community, while also providing fuel for further inspiration.

“Any time someone wants a custom piece, Jenna is down,” said Evelyn. “I really wanted an outfit for roller skating, and I had two things in mind. They literally went with me to pick out the fabric I wanted and made it for me.”

Not only does Jenna welcome custom ideas to tailor to the individual, but their designs are created with the understanding that bodies can also change over time. Making outfits adaptable to bodies is a priority when the goal of Jenna’s is to minimize textile waste that would otherwise end up in a landfill.

“I’ve had the same pieces for the last three years. Over the pandemic, my body has changed, and they still fit me. Jenna also makes some random ass pieces. They made me this sort of mom shirt that was like a peasant and clown combo with Renaissance-esque type piece made out of a stiff material. I wore it the day they brought it over, and every person commented on it. Someone said they would even marry me in it!” Evelyn said. “Put on Peachfuzz Parsnips, and you’ll be wed by nightfall!”

Unique creations by Peachfuzz Parsnips will be available for browsing and buying at the Whiteaker Community Market from 11 am to 4 pm on Sundays from May through October. Items are also available on Etsy, and custom ideas can be delivered via direct message on Jenna’s Instagram (@peachfuzzparsnips).