Connection Through Clothes

Last week was Sustainable Fashion Week down here in the South-West of England & has yet again brought a rich, conscious, creative cohort together. It’s starting to feel like a consistent cohort, meeting time and time again as we move through our journey with clothes and its connecting community.

What was very special last Saturday night (hosted by @Norland college) was a passion panel with @Jenny Garcia, Stylist @Becky Barnes & @Gemma Metheringham who took the trouble to come from London to share. I captured her sharing about her Beautiful plaid jacket, that of course was preloved, but even more precious is that it had been her Dad’s.
Wearing it was a way of feeling close to him now he was no longer here, even down to keeping the notes he had left in his pocket.

It took me right back to my own moment – an experience that lead me to do what I do today. I was 11 years old and both my parents were discarding some garments. I took one of each and I made it into a conjoined, unique pussy bow blouse.

It was weirdly exactly at a time when I was experiencing my parents divorcing. It wasn’t until lockdown, when I was upcycling a lot, that it registered as a way healing ❤️‍🩹 me, bringing me comfort in the crisis. It was something I couldn’t do anything about but I could repair and remake their clothes into something I loved for me. I couldn’t repair their marriage but I could save & repair their clothes.

I have never looked back.

Customising clothes is my life-long love & next week, I’m about to share my two favourite workshops at the knitting and stitching show at #AllyPally in London.

1. How to customise a denim jacket.
2. How to turn a vintage scarf into a top.

Both only use preloved clothes I’ve collected or, the participants bring their precious pieces and I share my trims, materials and textiles treasures for the last 30 years to adorn & enhance their tops.

Reusing clothes goes way deeper than saving the planet – which is huge – but as humans we need to connect with our clothes again to transform our habits, stop buying and start re-loving our wardrobes by adding precious pieces that are really meaningful and are unique to you –  sourced secondhand or made with love by a designer or crafts person. So, if you’re around next weekend, join us at www.knittingandstitchingshow.com – Sacred sewing Workshops by me and many other amazing artisans!