Some of the best stylish trends come from the most unexpected places.  Such an unexpected place to consider looking is your closet. Why not bring life to that favorite jean jacket of yours? You know the one  that you have had for years, from which you won't dare part. Or, how about those scarves that you have yet to wear, mainly because you don't know how to coordinate them. Well, why not re-create that jean jacket with that scarf to make a whole new jacket? That's what, Founding Designer Kate Fralin of Good Jeans company has been doing for women everywhere - offering recycled style at it's best.

Since the launch of Fralin's home-based, custom jean jacket company the spring of 2008, she has created quite a following. Today, Kate shares with readers her take on personal that for everyone it should truly be original and custom made, like her brand of custom made jackets, Good Jeans.

Naima Turner:  Hi Kate, thank you for joining me today. Tell me, has designing and styling garments always been your calling?

Kate Fralin: Yes and no. I have no formal training yet, I am the classic case of someone who wanted to change up my career path and stumbled upon a concept that I’m very passionate about and that is also very personal. Thankfully, Good Jeans corresponds with a population of women I seem to understand. I was very fortunate to grow up a short ride from Manhattan, and was able to tag along with my Mother who was a voracious shopper and had a keen sense of style. I can remember parking at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, waiting for the bus, and arriving at her favorite destination, Saks Fifth Avenue, and having the time of my life going through the floors with her, My Mother also sewed many of her own designs and I spent countless afternoons on the floor watching her cut out her patterns with her fabric scissors.

Naima Turner: What inspired you to create your first Good Jeans jacket?

Kate Fralin: I had been in the corporate world for 20 years and had just stopped working to start a consulting business. After several trips to the consignment store to clean out my (mostly) staid 80s and 90s looking suits, I looked to the stack of orange boxes, remembering each Hermes scarf and what they had meant to me over the years. Each holiday, my Mother had gifted me with one of these beautiful creations, trying to pass on her devotion to wearing scarves which she did with natural grace and style. My Mom had just recently passed away from a long struggle with Alzheimer’s and I felt as if giving these treasures away would somehow create even more distance from her. I literally took my favorite among the pile and wrapped it inside my faithful Gap jeans jacket and realized I was on to something. I made my first Good Jeans jacket for myself and received such incredible feedback from friends and family that I went on to make several more for other acquaintances and from there, the business was launched.

Naima Turner: Who is the Good Jeans customer?

Kate Fralin: A Good Jeans customer is someone who appreciates classic designs but who wants to preserve their own sense of style and personality. My customers have sent me everything from Lucky Brand, Tory Burch, and Isabel Marant jean jackets -- to the classics such as Levi, Gap, and JCrew. As for the inside, I would say overwhelmingly, Hermes scarves make the best lining however, I have done many Good Jeans jackets with Gucci, Ferragamo, Pucci, scarves and even some very clever original scarves coming from organizations such as a Hunt Club in Middleburg, VA. I believe in these tough economic times people are taking stock of what’s important, an item that can be created from an existing piece of clothing that has meaning and history is very compelling.

Naima Turner: How would you describe your personal style?