Everything in our lives is fast, we want it now, we are impatient, we don’t want to wait.

Including fashion, we want the newest trends at the lowest prices and we want it now, but at what cost?

Fast fashion is increasing and the art of sewing and tailoring is unfortunately a dying trade. Most clothes just aren’t made to last as long nor to fit as well resulting in them being worn a couple of times then being discarded and our landfills are filling up fast. Not to mention the conditions some employees are made to work in that produce some of these low quality, low-cost items. 

So, what am I doing about it? Stay with me for the story. 

Learning to sew at the age of just 7 I was self-taught and very much naive until the age of 17 when I finally started my Fashion and Garment Construction Degree. I would make clothes I either could not afford or could not find in shops. I was terrible to start with, I never finished anything properly but as my knowledge and skills increased, I grew more in love with the trade and knew it would be a career I was always passionate about. 

Making garments from scratch gives a certain satisfaction that you will only know once it’s done. Being able to say ‘oh I made it’ when you receive a compliment about something you made just makes you walk that little bit taller and hold your head that little bit higher.

While making clothes from scratch can’t be a little daunting and also time-consuming it is well worth it when you have something unique, well-fitting, and of great quality. You might be able to wear that silk dress that you might not have been able to afford therefore settling for a cheap polyester dress that just doesn’t quite fit or feel the same. 

Another option to help reduce waste is up-cycling second-hand (thrift shop) clothing. If it be by altering a garment to better suit your style by removing, adding, lengthening, shortening, etc, or discarding the style completely and just using the fabric to make something entirely new. Giving life to an item otherwise destined for landfill is somewhat rewarding and just makes you feel that little bit better knowing you are doing something to help our environment. It all adds up.

So, here I am sharing the knowledge and skills I have with you so that you too can feel proud to be wearing a garment you spent time and effort making. You will be able to follow along with our sewing tutorials or beginner basics ‘how tos’ to learn some new skills and gain confidence in your sewing ability. You might also be inspired to makeover something you found buried deep in an op shop or back of your wardrobe.