estudio 1999
Emerging · Under $200 · Mexico City, Mexico
Upcycled tops and lingerie-minded separates from Mexico City, proof that a thrifted shirt can be romantic.
Think: thrifted shirts, reborn as lingerie
The buy: the upcycled bustier shirt
What to buy
the upcycled bustier shirt
Categories
Occasions
Sustainability
Why estudio 1999 is worth it
estudio 1999 takes secondhand shirts apart and rebuilds them by hand into romantic corset and bustier tops, so no two are alike.
Each upcycled piece starts as an existing shirt, often men's cotton shirting, and is reshaped in its Mexico City workshop with ruching, bows, gathers or a corset line, so the stripes and checks of the original become part of the design. Alongside the one-offs it cuts small batches in deadstock crepe and knits, some of them knitted to order.
estudio 1999 picks
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About estudio 1999
estudio 1999 is the Mexico City label of stylist and designer Ileana León, who began by reworking secondhand shirts and leftover fabric into one-of-a-kind pieces.
It grew into a small workshop that also makes limited runs from deadstock fabric and knits, known for a romantic, slightly undone take on shirting that still works for everyday wear.
- Founded by
- Ileana León
- Based in
- Mexico City, Mexico
- Made in
- Mexico City
- Made of
- Upcycled cotton and cotton-polyester shirting, deadstock stretch crepe, alpaca and cotton knits
- Shipping
- Ships from Mexico City to the US for a flat MXN 900 in 3 to 9 business days, and worldwide; the brand warns import duties may apply and doesn't say they're included.
- Where to buy
- estudio 1999's own site · Our estudio 1999 picks
What shoppers say
From reviews and try-on videos, in our words.
- Returns
International orders are final sale, with no returns or exchanges, so US buyers should check each piece's measurements before ordering. Made-to-order and sale pieces can't be returned even within Mexico.
- Sizing
Upcycled pieces are one of a kind in a single size, with that piece's own measurements listed. Ready-to-wear runs XS to XXL, with size charts in centimeters and inches.
- Shipping
US shipping is a flat MXN 900 and takes 3 to 9 business days. The brand warns import duties may apply and doesn't say they're included, so budget for them on arrival.
- Made to order
Some knits, like an alpaca top, are knitted to order in the workshop and ship about two weeks after payment.
- Care
Most shirting pieces go in the machine or a hand wash at up to 40°C with no bleach; the stretch-crepe dress wants a cold wash, drying in the shade and no iron.
What estudio 1999 is made of
Cotton-led
- Natural
- 72%
- Plant-based
- 0%
- Synthetic
- 28%
Works most in: cotton and polyester
From the fabric listed on 37 pieces · 70% of the range lists it · Checked October 2026
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estudio 1999, answered
- What is estudio 1999?
- estudio 1999 is a Mexico City label that hand-reworks secondhand shirts into one-of-a-kind corset and bustier tops and skirts, alongside small-batch dresses and knits.
- Is estudio 1999 a good brand?
- Yes. We like it for shirting reinvented by hand: each shirt is rebuilt in its own workshop, no two pieces match, and the small-batch pieces use deadstock fabric.
- Who founded estudio 1999?
- Stylist and designer Ileana León founded estudio 1999 and leads it.
- Where is estudio 1999 from?
- Mexico City, where estudio 1999 reworks every piece in its own workshop.
- Does estudio 1999 run true to size?
- Upcycled pieces come in one size each, so go by the listed measurements; ready-to-wear has a size chart from XS to XXL.
- Does estudio 1999 ship to the US?
- Yes, for a flat MXN 900, in 3 to 9 business days. Import duties may apply, and international orders are final sale.
- Where can I buy estudio 1999?
- On estudio 1999's own site, which ships to the US for a flat fee.
- What is estudio 1999 made of?
- Across the 37 estudio 1999 pieces we could read in October 2026, about 72% of the fabric is natural fibers, 0% plant-based fibers like viscose and 28% synthetic. The most common fabrics are cotton and polyester.
- Which brands are like estudio 1999?
- If you like estudio 1999, look at Zemeta, Maria Ana, Sea NY and 28NATELIER.