I think I read/heard recently that there are enough clothes in existence on the planet to clothe the next 6 generations of humans. Or something along those lines. My memory isn't one of my best features. :)
The whole fast fashion business is awful. About 10 years ago I started making my own clothes because the thought of cheap labour and poor working conditions in poorer countries was too upsetting. I became absolutely obsessed with making clothes. To the point where it would be rare if I wasn't wearing all home made clothes. I began to realise just how badly made a lot of the high street stuff is, and how cheap the fabrics felt. It became an obsession for a few years. I designed and made my wedding dress. I even got a phone interview to appear on the Great British Sewing Bee, although in retrospect I thankfully didn't get on. Too stressful! I've calmed down a bit now because I don't need any more clothes. I'm making a pair of trousers this weekend, but that's only because I've gained weight over lockdown and all my old trousers are a bit tight. :) I guess making my own clothes is still bad for the planet, as the fabric has to come from somewhere, but I try and buy organic cotton if I can, and stay away from cheap man made material. It has certainly made me appreciate how much work goes into making a garment, and that someone and/or something has been very exploited, if a shop is selling a dress for £10.
Brilliant effort on your part, and a really interesting blog. :)
Jesus that's shocking, and not at all suprising. There are far too many clothes in the world and in production.
Yes exactly! Most clothes made these days are only meant to be worn a handful of times and then chucked so the quality is absolutely terrible. Every single corner is cut in terms of materials, labour and transporting. Seems the only thing these companies have a budget for is advertising.
Thats's so cool about you making your clothes and the call up from the sewing bee I'm super impressed. Were you crafty or anything before or did it come from nowhere? I wouldn't say that making your own clothes is bad for the planet, you're able to circumnavigate so much exploitation and transportation emissions that way. Also it's a really productive hobby. Would love to see pictures of these trousers when you're done.
My Mum was a home economics teacher, back in the day when the girls were taught sewing and cooking, and the boys did woodwork and metal work. (!!!!) I grew up with a sewing machine in the house so always new roughly how to use one. When I started sewing again, I looked on YouTube for anything I didn't know how to do. :)
I'll send a pic of the trousers once they're done. I'm going to cut out today and they might not get finished for a few days, but I need them for Christmas Day, so that I can wear them to my in laws, so I have a deadline. ;o)
I've bought a few items from Community Clothing. It's a really cool initiative set up by Patrick Grant (who incidentally is once of the Sewing Bee judges). He has a factory in Blackburn, and in the down time he keeps his employees in work, making basics, using off cuts of material, and sells them at cost. The fabric is all properly sourced. I have a really nice pair of selvedge jeans (that are currently a bit tight!) that I bought from there. It's not cheap, but again it is an illustration of how cheap and exploitative the fast fashion industry is, given that they don't take any profits from the items, and just cover the cost of production.
https://communityclothing.co.uk/
Are you setting yourself any new targets for next year?
It's so nice to meet someone who feels similarly about clothes! :)
I think the art of sewing has deffo been lost a bit. I'd quite like to have done sewing and woodwork at school. Would be so useful!
I know that if I've got anything more than a simple stitch I'd go straight to my mum to do it haha. YouTube is a brilliant recourse to learn pretty much anything.
Ohh I've never heard of that company before but I've just had a look and what a brilliant initiative! I'll deffo coider that in the future.
I don't have any new years resolutions as of yet, I don't normally set them but last year I was inspired. How about you?