Man Gives Designer His Late Mother's Clothes. The End Result Leaves Internet in Tears (Exclusive)

Mason Wagner began designing clothes in 2020 and shifted to upcycling pre-worn garments to reduce waste

NEED TO KNOW

• A viral TikTok video of a custom jacket made from sentimental fabrics brought him hundreds of personal requests

• Wagner tells PEOPLE his work combines philanthropy, sustainability and storytelling

Mason Wagner's sewing and design career has taken him on different paths.

This Wisconsin resident, 25, started designing clothes in 2020 while at the University of Wisconsin–Whitewater, where he and his roommate launched a brand called Samaritan.

"The idea was simple: donate 25% of all proceeds to a charity of the customer's choice. As we got deeper into it, we saw firsthand how much waste the process created," Wagner shares with PEOPLE.

This led them to shift their practice toward "reworking pre-worn garments sourced from thrift and secondhand stores, also known as upcycling."

"Samaritan built somewhat of a cult following on campus, but after we graduated and moved away from each other, the brand came to an end," Wagner says. "Still, the passion for upcycling never left me."

Soon after, he began making and sharing garments onInstagram, which started as "just a creative outlet and a way to find community."

Then, last year, Wagner got the idea to make a jacket out of old painters' drop cloths after seeing a Facebook Marketplace listing for hundreds of pounds of used cloth.

"I met up with a nice gentleman named Jim and bought a few. I decided to make a video about the jacket, and it went viral," Wagner says. "Suddenly, hundreds of people wanted a painter's jacket. Others began asking if I could use their personal drop cloths to make something for them."

That was when he realized a gap in the market, one that could be filled by reworking people's old clothes or fabrics into new designs.

"That's when I realized how many people could benefit from a service like this. Around the same time, people also started reaching out about transforming old family tablecloths and loved ones' clothing into something new," Wagner shares.

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This is how Wagner connected with a man named Eric, who had a collection of clothes from his late mom and was hoping to repurpose them into "something he could wear." When Eric asked Wagner if he had any ideas about what to make with the worn pieces, at first, he admittedly "wasn't sure."

"But after talking with my grandmother, a lifelong quilter, I had the idea to piece the garments together and line a jacket with them," Wagner shares.

While Eric's mother lived in Ohio her whole life, she loved the beach, so Wagner chose "an outer fabric that resembled water."

Still, the process "was much more complicated" than he expected.

He shares that it took "nearly 10 hours" to work with the different fabrics, textures, weights and styles, but the result was "better than I could have imagined."

Wagner posted the results to his TikTok page, and thevideowent viral, amassing over 460,000 views and leaving thousands of commenters overcome with emotion.

"Beautiful!!! Eric's mother will hug him every time he wears this jacket. Nice work!" one person commented, as another added, "I'm sobbing this is beautiful."

"That video really took off. Instead of just requests for painter's jackets, I began receiving hundreds of stories from people online, stories of joy, loss and everything in between," Wagner shares.

The designer admits that "it caught me off guard at first."

"But the more I thought about it, the more it made sense. Ever since I started making clothing, I've wanted to honor God by using my talents to build something with purpose," he shares. "My journey from philanthropy to sustainability to storytelling has shown me that clothing isn't valuable just because of how it looks or how it's made; it is the story it carries and the way it makes you feel when you wear it."

He says that "it's been a privilege" to "honor so many meaningful stories over the past year, and I'm excited to continue telling more in the future."

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byCosmopolite

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April 04, 2026

Man Gives Designer His Late Mother's Clothes. The End Result Leaves Internet in Tears (Exclusive)

Mason Wagner began designing clothes in 2020 and shifted to upcycling pre-worn garments to reduce waste NEED ...

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Anna Faris Reveals Which of Her Iconic Characters Are Her Favorite — Including One She Calls an 'Indulgent Brat' (Exclusive)

Anna Faris says there are two characters from her past that she still loves and might even want to revisit

NEED TO KNOW

• "I feel like I've been really lucky," Faris tells PEOPLE

• The actress, 49, recently reprised her role as Cindy Campbell in Scary Movie 6

Anna Faris is returning to the big screen as Cindy Campbell, but admits there are a few other characters from her past she'd like to revisit.

TheMomactress, 49, will step back into Cindy's shoes forScary Movie 6and tells PEOPLE there are two other characters from her filmography that she'd be happy to play again, one of which is Shelley from 2008'sThe House Bunny.

"I love Shelley. I do love Shelley. Shelley is near and dear to my heart," Faris shares.

Shelley was the titular "house bunny" in the movie, a former playmate who became the house mother for a down-on-their-luck sorority, teaching them confidence and inner love. In addition to Faris, the comedy starredEmma Stone,Colin Hanks,Kat Dennings, Katharine McPhee and Rumer Willis.

In 2024, Faris toldPEOPLEthat the Fred Wolf-directed film was "a life-changing role."

"Fundamentally, career stuff aside, playing a character that had so much compassion and lack of judgment, a character who really led with her heart... it sounds really corny, but I think it made me feel like it was easier to make friends in a weird way," she shared.

Another character that Faris "really loved" is Samantha James inJust Friends,but for entirely different reasons.

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"She's just a delicious little villain, such an indulgent brat. It was delicious to play," she tells PEOPLE. "I feel like I've been really lucky."

"Maybe there could be an opportunity where I get to play either one of those characters again. I would just love that," she adds.

Just Friendsis a 2005 Christmas comedy that starred Faris as Samantha, a self-absorbed pop star and, to many, a style icon. In addition to Faris, the holiday cult classic starredRyan Reynolds, Amy Smart, Chris Klein, Chris Marquette, Mike Brander and Julie Hagerty.

Faris' latest role, however, looked a little different. The actress was recently tapped to go undercover as aCandy Crushmascot during a Los Angeles Clippers game, leading to a surprise on-court reveal.

"Candy Crush asked me to come and join them as Bubblegum Troll. I am wearing a wild costume," Faris shares of her partnership with the beloved puzzle game. "I get to become part of a game that I love to play, especially when I'm waiting for my son outside of tennis practice or soccer practice or whatever sport he thinks he likes for a minute or two, and then he doesn't."

"I get to bring joy and playfulness to a huge crowd of people. I'm thrilled. I get to have this childlike fun and energetic experience."

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April 04, 2026

Anna Faris Reveals Which of Her Iconic Characters Are Her Favorite — Including One She Calls an 'Indulgent Brat' (Exclusive)

Anna Faris says there are two characters from her past that she still loves and might even want to revisit NE...

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All About Bill Murray's Grandchildren, Including Son Luke's 4 Kids

Bill Murray has six sons from two marriages and at least four grandchildren

NEED TO KNOW

• Luke Murray, a college basketball coach, has four children with his wife, Kara Murray

• The Groundhog Day actor has frequently attended Luke's college basketball games with his grandkids

Bill Murrayis a longtime actor in the public eye, but he has kept his family life private.

TheGhostbustersstarbecame a fatherin 1982 when he welcomed son Homer with his first wife, Margaret Kelly. Bill and Kelly welcomed sonLukethree years later. After their 1996 divorce, he welcomed four more children — sons Caleb, Jackson, Cooper and Lincoln — with his second wife, Jennifer Butler, whom he was married to from 1997 to 2008.

Although he keeps much of his children's lives private, Bill has occasionally supported them publicly in their respective careers. In particular, he has been seencheering on his second-oldest son, Luke, while he worked as an assistant coach at the University of Connecticut's men's basketball team.

While many of his children also keep their personal lives off social media, Luke has frequently brought along his children to his college basketball games and introduced them when he was announced as the head coach of Boston College's men's basketball team in March 2026. Luke and his wife, Kara, are parents to sons Luke Jr. and Cash and daughters Celine and Leila, per hisUConn bio.

Here's everything to know about Bill Murray's grandchildren.

Bill's son Luke has four children

Bill has at least four grandchildren. In September 2015, Luke wed Kara in Philadelphia, and Bill evenskipped out on acceptinghis Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Miniseries or Movie to attend the nuptials.

Bill became a grandfather when Luke and Kara welcomed their first son, Luke Jr. The couple went on to have another son, Cash, and later added daughters Celine and Leila to the family.

Over the years, Luke has had the support of his father, wife and children as he embarked on a successful coaching career. Luke spent years in men's basketball coaching jobs at Louisville, Xavier, Rhode Island, Towson and Wagner before moving back to Connecticut — where he was raised and attended college — with his family.

Bill has attended college basketball games with his grandchildren

Bill has been a staple at his son's coaching games over the years and has occasionally been seen with some of his grandchildren in the stands.

WhenUConn won the NCAA Men's Championshipin 2023,Bill proudly watched in the standsand later joined Luke on the court. At the end of the game, Luke climbed the ladder with Luke Jr. and Cash underneath him to cut a piece of the net. Most recently, Murray attended the2026 March MadnessElite Eight game, whereUConn beat Duke in a major upset.

In March 2026, Luke accepted a job as the head coach of the men's basketball team at Boston College and said that his family was "pumped" to move to the city.

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"I'm excited to be here," he said in anInstagram videofor the basketball team. "My family is pumped up to be here."

Luke was joined by all four of his children and Kara in hisintroductory press conferenceon March 31. Kara and the three older kids sat in the front row, while Luke's mom took care of his youngest child behind the scenes.

"Today's a day to celebrate Luke Murray, but I'd be remiss if I didn't compliment his kids," University spokesperson Jack Dunn said at the end. "Kara and Luke, I've never met four nicer, more polite children in my life. I have four kids of my own, and trust me, they weren't like this."

Meanwhile, Luke said that his dad was "excited" about the move, as well.

"I know he's excited to come up to Boston. He loves the city. He's been around this campus a little bit," Luke said, according tosports reporter Trevor Hass. "I'm sure he'll be a fixture here as well."

Bill has spoken about parenthood

While Bill allows his children to carve their own paths and live as privately as they'd like, he has occasionally spoken about his own approach to parenting. In a 2003 interview withRolling Stone, Bill reflected on the feeling of welcoming a child for the first time.

"People only talk about what a joyous experience it is, but there is terror: Your life, as you know it, is over," he shared. "It's over the day that child is born. It's over, and something completely new starts."

Nearly a decade later in a 2012 interview withEsquire, Bill spoke about his approach to fatherhood and explained that he learned he just wanted his children to be at their "best."

"If you bite on everything they throw at you, they will grind you down. You have to ignore a certain amount of stuff," he said. "The thing I keep saying to them lately is: 'I have to love you, and I have the right to ignore you.' "

He added, "All I want is you at your best — you making this an easier home to live in, you thinking of others."

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April 04, 2026

All About Bill Murray's Grandchildren, Including Son Luke's 4 Kids

Bill Murray has six sons from two marriages and at least four grandchildren NEED TO KNOW Luke Murray, a coll...

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Why is Easter celebrated? Here’s what to know about the holy day.

Easterwill be celebrated this year on Sunday, April 5.

Though widely associated with the Easter Bunny, colorful eggs, and baskets of chocolate, it's a significant holiday for members of the Christian faith. The holiday commemorates the resurrection of Jesus Christ three days after he was crucified by the Romans around 30 A.D.

Easter follows Lent, a 40-day season of prayer, and is a day after the last day of Holy Week (April 4), which began on March 29 this year.

Here's everything to know about Easter Sunday as it approaches.

How is Easter celebrated?

Some people celebrate Easter by attending Mass or another type of church service on Easter Sunday. According to polling released on April 2 by theNapolitan News Service, a nonprofit that conducts polling, 65% of American voters plan on celebrating the holiday.

That number, according to the outlet, includes 34% of people who celebrate Easter as a religious holiday, 13% who celebrate it as a secular one, and 16% who celebrate it as both.

Easter is typically celebrated on the first Sunday after the full moon, on or after the vernal, according to previousUSA TODAY reporting, which can fall anywhere from March 22 to April 25.

Some religious sects have chosen not to include secular Easter traditions, such as the Easter bunny or Easter eggs, according toHistory.com.

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The holiday is also marked with a traditional Easter lamb dinner. In Jewish traditions, lambs were often used for sacrifices and are typically served during Passover, according toHistory.com.

Easter's origins

Many Easter holiday traditions and symbols have roots in pagan celebrations, according toHistory.com.

For example, the tradition of Easter eggs stems from pre-Christian pagan traditions, per the outlet. In ancient cultures, eggs symbolized life, renewal, and rebirth. The pagans believed eggs symbolized fertility and birth.

Another great symbol of the holiday is the Easter Bunny. While the exact origins of the character are unknown, it likely stems from German immigrants who arrived in the United States in the 1700s, according toHistory.com. Baby bunnies in springtime are also associated with birth and renewal.

Not all religious followers celebrate the holiday the same way. Traditions vary across Roman Catholics, Protestants, and Eastern Orthodox.

Eastern Orthodox Christians begin celebrating Easter with Great Lent, starting on Clean Monday, 40 days before Easter, according toHistory.com. Easter is also called Pascha byOrthodox Christians, which means Passover. According toTime and Date, Orthodox Easter falls on April 12.

Michelle Del Rey is a trending news reporter at USA TODAY. Reach her at mdelrey@usatoday.com.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY:Easter is on Sunday. Here's what to know as the holiday approaches.

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April 04, 2026

Why is Easter celebrated? Here’s what to know about the holy day.

Easterwill be celebrated this year on Sunday, April 5. Though widely associated with the Easter Bunny, color...

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Outspoken Iranians overseas say their loved ones are being detained back home

CAIRO (AP) —Iran's governmentis detaining family members and threatening to seize property of Iranian opposition figures in exile, some tell The Associated Press, in the latest crackdown on dissenting voices as the war rages on.

Iran War

Activists overseas play a key role in tracking the crackdown, which is complicated by the internet shutdown imposed earlier this year duringmassive nationwide protestsagainst the Islamic theocracy. Watchdogs say security forces shot and killed thousands of people.

The war with the United States and Israel has intensified authorities' threats against anyone speaking to outside media or activists. Now that pressure appears to be expanding to intimidate activists in exile.

Iran 'took my mother away to make me be quiet'

Intelligence agents in Tehran on March 15 detained the brother of Hossein Razzagh, a former political prisoner who fled last year to Europe, Razzagh told the AP.

"My own brother isn't at all political and doesn't do any kind of political activity. It's to put me under pressure," he said.

His brother, Ali, was taken from his home in Tehran and was able to phone his wife that night "for a few seconds" from a detention center run by Iran's Intelligence Ministry, Razzagh said.

Since then, the family and his lawyer have been unable to contact him. But the intelligence ministry told them it was reviewing his contact with his brother, Razzagh said.

Another activist who fled, Behnam Chegini, said his 20-year-old niece was detained on March 10 for a week. The niece was taken from her parents' house in the city of Arak soon after she returned from Tehran, where her university had closed because of the war.

She was later released on bail and put under a travel ban.

Chegini, who is now based in France, said the detention was at least in part "because she is my niece and they know that."

Sareh Sedighi, an activist who fled after her 2021 death sentence was overturned, said her mother was detained from her home last month in the western town of Urmia.

"The Islamic Republic took my mother away to make me be quiet," she said. Her mother suffers from health problems and requires daily insulin doses, she added.

And Mahshid Nazemi, a former political prisoner and activist who now lives in France, said at least one friend was detained and questioned about contact with her.

Authorities target the property of outspoken exiles

Iran's judiciary has begun seizing the property of public figures critical of the country's rulers, under an anti-espionage law approved duringlast year's 12-day warwith Israel that punishes media and cultural activities deemed to support Iran's enemies.

A judiciary spokesman on March 31 said on state TV that more than 200 indictments for confiscations have been or are being issued.

Borzou Arjmand, an Iranian actor living in California, found out from news reports that his assets in Iran had been confiscated. After his outspoken support forprotests in 2022, Arjmand was unable to return to Iran. Since then, authorities have blocked his bank accounts.

Arjmand has expressed support on social media for Reza Pahlavi, the son of Iran's last shah who has organized an opposition movement abroad and supported U.S.-Israeli strikes.

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Pressuring exiled figures is meant "so the Iranian people's voice doesn't reach the world," Arjmand said.

At least three other figures living outside Iran —star soccer player Sardar Azmoun, musician Mohsen Yeghaneh and university professor Ali Sharifi Zarchi — have been on lists of confiscations, according to two semiofficial news agencies in Iran. Yeghaneh and Zarchi have expressed support for anti-government protesters on social media.

Rights groups say conditions are worsening

Iranian security and judicial officials have warned that any new anti-government protests will be met with lethal force.

State media regularly report arrests around the country, describing people as "mercenaries" or "agents" of Israel and the United States, "royalist thugs" or "traitorous elements."

Reports have alleged that some sent information to "hostile networks."

Iran Human Rights, a Norway-based group, has tracked several hundred detentions since the war began on Feb. 28, using its networks in the country and state media reports, said its director, Mahmood Amiry-Moghhaddam. He said the full number is likely far higher.

Among those detained is human rights lawyerNasrin Sotoudeh, taken by intelligence agents from her house in Tehran, said her daughter Mehraveh Khandan, who lives in Amsterdam. The 64-year-old Sotoudeh had been out on bail for health reasons following an earlier detention.

Little is known about how trials are functioning, as Israeli airstrikes have targeted buildings connected to the judicial system. "It's like they are half-closed. A lot of judges are staying home," said Musa Barzin, a lawyer with Dadban, a group of rights lawyers based abroad.

Some report deteriorating conditions inside crowded prisons. Speaking from Tehran, the wife of a political prisoner held at Iran's Evin Prison worried it could be struck asit was during last year's war.

"Explosions and smoke can be heard and seen from everywhere in the city. Every time we hear a sound, we get scared," she said, speaking on condition of anonymity for her family's safety.

Iranian opposition tries to organize overseas

The situation has led to new attempts to organize the highly fragmented Iranian opposition abroad.

Shortly before the war, Razzagh and others began planning an opposition conference in London, the Iran Freedom Congress, to bring together pro-democracy groups. Razzagh represented a group of Iran-based opposition figures including Soutoudeh and imprisoned Nobel laureateNarges Mohammadi.

He called the conference a first step toward forming a coalition to push for a "political transition" in Iran.

For decades, Iran's rulers have quashed organized political opposition. Some activists in the diaspora say the war is worsening that pressure.

"Israel and America are saying, well, if the Islamic Republic doesn't kill you, let us bomb you. They've been taken hostage from both sides," Nazemi said of Iranians back home.

Associated Press writer Sarah El Deeb in Beirut contributed to this report.

byCosmopolite

in

April 04, 2026

Outspoken Iranians overseas say their loved ones are being detained back home

CAIRO (AP) —Iran's governmentis detaining family members and threatening to seize property of Iranian opposition fig...

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