How sewing my own clothes changed my life (and how I think about resources)

We start sewing for all sorts of reasons. Some of us learned in school, were taught by grandmothers, or caught the bug after watching programmes like The Great British Sewing Bee. Perhaps you were tired of high-street options and wanted control over your own wardrobe, or you wanted specifically to move away from the reliance on fast fashion. Or perhaps you just love to make things.

I know for me, it was a combination of a lot of these factors. I began by making toys and pillowcases with my Grandma as a child, had my own sewing machine by 10 and have now exclusively made my own clothes for the last 6-7 years. As often happens, though, I forgot about these skills during my teenage years and early 20s, rediscovering them in my late 20s. It all started again when I found a second hand dress from a Robin Hood production that I wanted to alter for a Halloween costume.

I borrowed my mother in law’s sewing machine, and it all came back. Admittedly it was not my finest work, but it gave me a complete sense of liberation – I could create the idea that was in my head, and it felt like the options were endless.

The discovery of independent, ‘indie’, pattern designers and their relatable, contemporary, and accessible designs fuelled this rediscovered excitement, and I began a journey which has been life-changing.

Shirking the fast-fashion waste machine

Fast fashion has a hugely negative impact on the environment, and on human welfare. It’s the second biggest consumer of water and is responsible for nearly 10% of all global emissions (Earth.org). Over the last decade it has become almost the norm to shop from companies like this, who contribute significantly to environmental damage and waste of resources – you may have seen photos of piles of discarded clothes at landfills acting as gross pollutants. That on its own is awful enough, but then there is the horrendously underpaid labour that’s used (abused) in order to create such cheap garments, at an unfathomable rate.

It’s also contributed to the distancing between what we expect to pay for clothes, and what they are worth. I’m often asked if I’ll knit or sew someone a piece of clothing. Let’s take a linen dress. That might use 2-3m of fabric which could cost anywhere between £30 and £80 depending on your fabric choice. A whole day’s labour at living wage is nearly £90. That’s between £120-170 (and quick sewing!)

Sewing is skilled work, though. I was in my 20s before I realised that all clothes are ‘handmade’. They’re not mass produced by clothes making machines – those machines are real people sat at a sewing machine. This realisation gave me a huge perspective shift, and changed forever how I thought about my clothes, and my materials. It felt brilliant to remove myself from this cycle. Of course, there are other options than buying from fast fashion or making your own clothes, but bearing this in mind really galvanised me in my journey towards taking control over my own clothes, and my impact on the environment.

Having fun with your clothes

Sewing means I can create completely original clothes. They’re an expression of my creativity and love of making things. It’s also helped me develop my own personal style. I often used to have an idea in my head, and spend hours looking in shops or online, but often could never find quite what I had in mind. Making it myself opens up a world of possibilities! Endless combinations of patterns and fabrics, and of the option to alter or ‘hack’ a design if you choose.

We all have things about our bodies that can be difficult when shopping pre-made or ‘ready to wear’ clothes. E.g. I have a long torso, and find it hard to get jumpers, swimming costumes or jumpsuits the right length. When you sew, you can personalise your clothes to fit your body! Of course, there’s a level of skill to getting this right, but it just comes with experimentation and practice.

Sewing has reshaped my life

I’ve since started my own label – Thread and Yarn – and designed my own sewing patterns. The Bilbo Vest (which is a patchwork, quilted waistcoat designed to use up fabric scraps), and the Bramble Skirt (a beginner friendly YouTube sewing tutorial).

I’ve begun local sewing workshops, and love teaching others how to build confidence with sewing and start their own journey, whatever that may be. For some it might be understanding how to use their machine, hem curtains, or piece together quilts. For others it might be making their own pair of jeans, or a coat.

The time we spend on our sewing projects teaches us the value of handmade things. I think it makes us more likely to continue investing time in them through mending and recycling. It’s liberating, empowering and truly creative.

I hope you decide to give it a go, if you haven’t already! William Gee is a lovely, family owned business and a great place to find your sewing supplies.