Home sewing is a sustainable act and a revolution in the age of fast fashion.
What are the benefits of sewing our own clothes?
It's super fun, it is relaxing, it offers a creative fulfillment, it gives us the freedom to be unique! Plus, we can be proud of acting sustainably!
Home sewing can significantly contribute to a more sustainable lifestyle.
At first, when we sew things for ourselves, we create an emotional bond with that piece of clothing. We have to dedicate time, to chose design, fabric and notions. This is likely to build a special relationship with our creation, so it drives us to take better care of it and value it longer.
Ecologicaly, in this age of fast fashion the carbon footprint of clothing mass production is grater than that of international sea and air traffic combined, while it produces more than 92 million tonnes of waist every wear! Home sewing is a revolution which gives an alternative at this crazy situation! All of us, home sewers do our part for moving consumer culture in a more sustainable direction. We create individual garments just for ourselves, sewing the amount of pieces that we'll actually use while we reduce our consumption from the modern clothing industry.
Ethicaly, when we sew our clothes we know that they are not made through the expolitation practices that big clothing companies follow in order to produce cheaply, quickly and as much as possible.
Wanna know the key aspects for using your fantastic super power :) your sewing skill, in the most sustainable way? Check out bellow list:
Use what you already have : The most sustainable fabric is the one that you already own :). Organize your fabric stash (you can download our FREE Sewing planner here) and find sewing projects that can make good use of the fabrics you already have.
Recycle Fabrics and Notions : Consider using fabric scraps for small sewing projects, keep the notions as buttons or other accessories of old useless garments, find ideas for upcycling old clothes.
Look for Deadstock Fabrics : Nowadays, you can buy awesome deadstock fabric qualities from digital as well as from physical stores.
Buy Eco-friendly Fabrics : If you feel like getting a new fabric, prefer Organic Cotton, Linen, Organic Viscose or Tencel. These qualities are often grown without harmful pesticides. You can also find fabrics that are dyed with natural materials like plants, instead of synthetic dyes.
Buy Digital PDF Sewing Patterns : Print only the pattern pieces, read the instructions on your pc or tablet and keep all the content saved digitaly.
*Here, on 'The patterns room', I'm committed to offering my Sewing Patterns exclusively in digital PDF format, even though that means I might miss out a number of sales. I'm doing so, cause it's one of my basic values to contribute with all possible ways in reducing waste and protecting our planet.
Look after and cherish the garments you alreαdy have : Wash them according the instructions, look after them, repair them and give them a new life with upcycling.
Hope you found this article useful!
Enjoy the magic art of sustainable sewing!
Sophie xxx
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