There was something about the 1990s that made sparkle feel essential. Maybe it was the tail end of disco nostalgia. Maybe it was early Y2K optimism. Whatever the reason, sequins, big, bold and glittering, found their way onto jackets, tops, pillows, and DIY kits.
I recently uncovered a small stash of these kits, untouched since the ’90s. Glittery and slightly kitschy now, but once they were the cutting edge of home-fashion and self-expression. Holding them feels like opening a time capsule.
✨ What I Found
Here are some of the kits that caught my eye:
-
A sequin-art hummingbird kit (c. 1990s) — full of sequins, pattern guide, and the kind of magic that turned yarn or fabric into shining birds.
-
A bulk bundle of sequin-art pattern and sequins — all the bits you’d need to decorate clothes, bags, or home goods.
-
A quick appliqué kit (butterfly) that made two pieces — ideal for customizing tees, tote bags, or jackets.
-
A carousel horse sequin-art kit — at once playful and nostalgic, promising more sparkle than a thrift-store concert T-shirt.
All of them unopened. All shimmering quietly under the patina of time.
And that’s where their charm lies, not just in the sequins themselves, but in what they represent: a DIY aesthetic, the joy of personalizing fashion, and that ’90s urge to make your clothes your own.
Why ’90s Sequin Art Mattered
Back then, buying a flashy, sequin-studded jacket, or customizing your own, had weight. It meant something. It said: I’m bold. I love shine. I’m not afraid to stand out.
For many, sequin kits were an entry-point to that world. You didn’t need to pay retail prices or sacrifice your budget on a trend piece. All you needed was a kit, a plain shirt or bag, some time, and the patience to stitch the sequins on.
Suddenly, anyone could sparkle. Anyone could remix. Anyone could make a fashion statement.
And beyond fashion, these kits also tapped into craft culture. They were about hands-on work, small-scale creativity, and the satisfaction of finishing something tangible.
What the Kits Say About Design & Nostalgia
Holding one of these vintage kits, you notice small things:
-
The color palettes: jewel-tone blues, hot pinks, glittery silvers. The very colors that defined nightclub posters, music videos, and pop-culture style.
-
The motifs: hummingbirds, butterflies, carousel horses. Whimsical, slightly romantic, maybe even kitschy by today’s clean-minimal standards.
-
The packaging: pre-printed patterns, perforated canvases or guides, sealed bags of sequins. Everything packaged so that the “craft newbie” could follow directions and still end up with something showy.
These details speak to a moment: when crafting, fashion, and individual flair collided.
Could Sequin Art Be Cool Again?
What I love about these kits (besides the nostalgia) is their potential to be re-imagined. Because trends move in circles, and today’s makers are remixing past decades with new values: sustainability, handmade authenticity, and personal expression.
Imagine:
-
Repurposing a sequin appliqué onto a modern denim jacket.
-
Using leftover sequins to decorate recycled fabric totes or upcycled garments.
-
Mixing sequin art with embroidery or patchwork for a “retro-meets-modern” hybrid.
-
Sharing the experience in a craft café, a group sequin-night where people customize thrift-store clothes together.
In that sense, these kits aren’t outdated, they’re dormant. Waiting for someone to bring them back.
What Their Sparkle Still Says
These sequin kits remind me how craft can be louder than words.
How making even something as flashy as a sequin-covered horse can be personal.
They show that craft doesn’t always have to be subtle. Sometimes it’s about making something that shines, that catches the light, and that reflects who you are.
And they make me wonder: in a world where “handmade” often means minimal, quiet, and earthy... what if we let sparkle back in?
