Here at Stitched Up, much of our work – including our workshops and events – focus on reuse, repair and upcycling. This is because as we all know, the best thing you can do to reduce the environmental impact of your clothes is to keep them in use for longer.
So, teaching people how to make new clothes (somethimes from brand new fabric) might seem out of place in that context. Here’s why we think learning to make your own clothes *is* sustainable fashion…
1 // It gives you an insight into clothing production
When you learn to make clothes, you gain an appreciation of the amount of time and skill that goes into making a garment. This then in turn makes you question how fast fashion manages to reach such low prices. If it’s taken you half a day to make a t-shirt, how is is it possible to buy one for £2?
2 // you value clothes more
When you’ve spent hours making a garment, you’re more likely to love it and wear it for longer – you’ll find ways to style it and keep it in your wardrobe, to repair it when it’s damaged, and maybe also to upcycle it when it’s past wearing – to preserve the lovely fabric you invested in. Valuing clothes in this way is a great plus for the environment.
3 // It makes you feel good!
Learning a new skill is a great confidence booster and makes you feel great! Boosting your self-confidence and self-esteem is not only good for you, it’s also good for society and the planet. We truly believe that we need to feel good to look after each other and this big rock we call home. For the Stitched up team, seeing people feeling proud of what they’ve made is one of the best things about our job.
4 // It helps you understand how to alter, repair + upcycle
When you learn how to construct clothing, you also understand how to deconstruct it. For example, when you learn to make a pair of trousers, you also learn the skills to adjust that type of waistband and to hem trousers. This can save you a lot of money but also helps you get more use out of the clothes you already own.
If you’re in Manchester and fancy developing this skill for life, you can find our upcoming courses here.
