Today we’d like to introduce you to Maggie O’Banion.
Hi Maggie, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
Like a lot of people, I first learned to sew in middle school home economics class. I made one truly terrible cat-themed apron and somehow my mom still has it in the apron rotation. I was not exactly bitten by the sewing bug then, though. It would be almost 20 years before I found my way back to it.
In the years in between, I worked as a nuclear engineer for the federal government in Washington, DC, married my college sweetheart, and eventually moved to Austin, Texas to be closer to family and start our own. When my first son was born in 2021, I knew in my heart that I wanted to stay home with him. Staying home has been deeply fulfilling, but I also missed making something tangible and creative.
It started small, just bibs for friends’ babies and very wonky Christmas bookmarks for family. But over time, sewing turned into something I genuinely loved. As I kept practicing, I also found myself drawn to upcycling. I loved the idea of taking clothing and linens that might otherwise be discarded and giving them a second life. Around that time, I found Pam (see pictured), a local woman destashing her beautiful vintage tablecloths, and meeting her really helped shape the direction of my business. These were not just old linens sitting in a closet – they had been part of her family dinners and real memories, which made me see them in a whole new way.
That is really where Second Wind Fabrics came from. The name reflects both the textiles and me. It is a second wind for vintage tablecloths, linens, and other forgotten materials, but it is also my own second wind in this new chapter of motherhood and creative work.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
It has definitely not been a paved road – more of a bumpy one! Building a small business while being home with my two little boys has meant fitting it into the small pockets of everyday life. A lot of my sewing happens late at night when the house is finally quiet. I’m squeezing in estate sales during the small window of part-time preschool and sometimes I’m dragging my kids with me to the reuse store to grab notions or supplies.
It is a full season of life and sometimes it does feel like I’m building this business in the margins. But I also would not trade it, because I get to pour into the two things I care deeply about: raising my kids and giving old textiles a new life.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I make one-of-a-kind clothing from vintage and secondhand textiles, especially old tablecloths and linens that might otherwise be overlooked. A lot of my work is about seeing potential in something that already has a story and turning it into something wearable again.
What I specialize in most is finding that balance between special and practical. I want my pieces to feel joyful and unique but still like something you can actually wear as you dash out to run errands. What sets my work apart is probably that every textile really leads the process. Because I work with vintage materials, I’m not starting with bolts of new fabric and repeating the same thing over and over. Each piece is a little conversation between me and the textile as I figure out what it is to become.
What I’m most proud of is creating a business around something I genuinely care about. I love the creativity of it but I also love that it helps people see old textiles in a new way. There is already so much beauty in the world that has been made and discarded and it feels meaningful to give some of it a second life.
Where do you see things going in the next 5-10 years?
I think over the next 5 to 10 years, people are going to keep craving more meaning in what they buy and wear. We are already living in a world that is getting faster and more automated, and I think that is only going to increase with AI touching so many parts of our lives. Because of that, I actually think handmade and slow fashion will feel even more special.
I also think people are getting a little tired of disposable fashion. Brands like Shein and Temu have made it easier than ever to buy more for less, but I do think there is a growing appreciation for clothing that has a story, whether that is upcycled, vintage, handmade, or small-batch. I also think people are becoming more drawn to natural materials and textiles that feel good to wear, last longer, and connect them a little more to the real world.
I hope the future keeps moving toward valuing creativity, craftsmanship, and the beauty of giving existing materials a second life.
Pricing:
- Women’s tops: starting at $64
- Dresses: starting at $94
- Children’s pieces: starting at $44
- All pieces are one of a kind, so pricing may vary slightly by textile and design
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.etsy.com/shop/SecondWindFabrics
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/secondwindfabrics/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/people/Second-Wind-Fabrics/61576238201617/
- Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@secondwindfabrics?lang=en
