Sustainability, Sewing, & Me // Answering Your Questions
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- Опубликовано: 29 сен 2024
- How do I make my sewing more sustainable? I make my life a little more sustainable by sewing my own clothes. I just make too much of them.
(Edit: I just wanted to pop in an hour or so after this went up to say I didn't mean to imply those asking nicely about sustainability were being haters! You guys are great, and it is an important question! I just was anticipating mean comments on /this/ video because I said I don't like table cloths 😅 I asked for questions and those were great ones! I had meant for the rest of the Q&A to go up before this whole video just addressing the elephant in the room that is sustainability, but for literally the rest of the sewing Q&A footage I had lipstick on my front teeth and have to refilm it sooo...this one ended up coming out first!)
If I were trying to live in the most sustainable way possible, I wouldn't sew at all, or make anything, or buy anything, or mail anything, or drive, or use the internet. Instead, either I create, use my hands, or I go a bit mad. Instead I am selfish, and a little shade villainous perhaps, and I know it. Facets of my life and work don't match the values I'd like to hold. I just don't particularly think there is much unique about that, much rarity in such a contradiction. Humanity has its faults, and I present no exception to such a thunderous rule.
Also, I didn't get into a lot of ethics in this video, as I was focusing on giving a glancing overview of textile sustainability, not ethical fashion or the ethics of buying used items in general. The ethics of thrifting, both of clothing and textiles of any kind are a whole other issue! Is it more sustainable to recycle? Usually yes. Is it always the more ethical choice? Not necessarily. In some places there are members of the community who need those thrifted sheets for sheets, and in some places they never sell and end up getting thrown out by the store. Another complex and gray issue without a clear cut answer.
Leena Norm's excellent series Positive Panic, because I wish I could be more like Leena who is wise and also better at living a life that reflects her values than I am: • I was wrong about clim...
Greenpeace Article on microplastics from polyester fabrics: www.greenpeace...
Ecological Footprint and Water Analysis of Cotton, Hemp and Polyester: mediamanager.s...
Cherrett, N., Barret, J., Clemett, A., Chadwick, M. and Chadwick, M., 2005. Ecological Footprint and Water Analysis of Cotton, Hemp and Polyester. [online] Ecological Footprint and Water Analysis of Cotton, Hemp and Polyester. Available at: mediamanager.s... (Accessed 12 May 2021)
2014 Quilting in America Survey: fabshopnet.com...
The report about having one less child that made everyone mad in 2017: iopscience.iop...
Seamwork article about used clothing waste: www.seamwork.c...
Stock footage from Storyblocks.
Music and Sound Effects from Epidemic Sound.
Where I get my pattern drafting paper: atlaslevy.com/P... (not sponsored)
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First, a disclaimer: So many of you have kindly offered to send me things, including vintage items you may have inherited, and I am so honored you would think of me and of course I do adore vintage treasures, however, unfortunately I only have so much storage space currently! So there is a chance that if something just wont work for me, or doesn't fit me etc, that I may not be able to keep all of your lovely things. Please only send things if you are okay with the possibility that I may donate items I just cannot keep. If you would prefer I put things that I can't keep into the TCH Etsy shop to help raise funds for me and the channel, please specify this in a note or letter in your parcel. Thank you so much!
Bianca Esposito
PO Box 632177
Highlands Ranch, CO 80163
Thank you for watching!
Not all villains wear capes, but I would. Do try and keep things civil down here pals, thank you!
Also, I didn't get into a lot of ethics in this video, as I was trying to give a glancing overview of textile sustainability, not ethical fashion or the ethics of buying used items. The ethics of thrifting, both of clothing and textiles of any kind are a whole other issue! Is it more sustainable to recycle? Usually yes. Is it always the more ethical choice? Not necessarily. In some places there are members of the community who need those thrifted sheets for sheets, and in some places they never sell and end up getting thrown out by the store. Another complex and gray issue without a clear cut answer, that we can discuss in the future perhaps.
Edit: Also I just wanted to pop in an hour or so after this went up to say I didn't mean to imply those asking nicely about sustainability were being haters! You guys are great, and it is an important question! I just was anticipating mean comments on /this/ video because I said I don't like table cloths 😅 I asked for questions and those were great ones! I had meant for the rest of the Q&A to go up before this whole video just addressing the elephant in the room that is sustainability, but for literally the rest of the sewing Q&A footage I had lipstick on my front teeth and have to refilm it sooo...this one ended up coming out first!
@@TheClosetHistorian we must maintain decorum. One must not have lipstick on ones teeth in public. Tis blasphemy. 😉
@@CharredFibers I went through the footage like "the whole tiiiime? come oooon" 😩 if it was one section fine, but dang 😂
@@TheClosetHistorian I'm sure we all give you absolution.
In Nomine Patris, et Filii, et Spiritus Sancti 😉
Okay I’d looove to hear your expanded thoughts on these other issues!!
Maybe another future video?? 👉👈
So thoughtful and well said, Bianca. I also went to a fashion school that funneled it's students straight into the fast fashion industry. Hand sewing was frowned upon and all designs had to be considered for mass market viability. I couldn't be a part of it.
There should be refunds for degrees. Not what I was expecting or just didn't fit right. Lol
Same here, I left after a year instead of continuing. Currently trying to fill in the knowledge void with books and self learning. It's a much harder and slower process for me (I'm not the best self disciplined ^^' ), but at least I'm not contributing to fast fashion and learning things I actually want to learn (like tailoring skills)
Excellent. Thank you. Also thank you for mentioning a plant based diet which is so amazingly a big deal.
I personally live on a very low income, and while I wear what I have for a *long* time, sometimes I do need something new.
Recently I needed a new blouse and financially fast fashion stores were pretty much the only option (being plus size, I've *never* found clothes in thrift stores). I ended up with an affordable 100% viscose blouse. Does that fabric have issues? Yes, of course it does! But in my opinion it's better than polyester in that it doesn't release plastic into the water when I wash it, and it'll degrade faster when it's thrown away. I didn't make the perfect decision, because I couldn't. But at least I tried? We can encourage individuals to make decisions with sustainability in mind, but to judge people for it is rather short sighted in my opinion.
Also, fast fashion companies that sell a "sustainable" line of clothing (hey this has 10% recycled polyester!) while doing NOTHING about the consumerism they promote is just so aggravating to me. It's so performative.
The greenwashing is strong out there! Viscose/rayon actually biodegrades pretty quickly apparently, so that's nice I guess? I like rayon so I was happy to hear that 😅
It’s funny because my daughter used to ask why I like to make my own stuff and then she couldn’t find something she wanted and was very very happy that I could make it! And now she wants me to make everything for her! And now I’m going to teach her to make her first dress... and pull her further away from fast fashion.
I think that is WONDERFUL! I had friends growing up who couldn't sew on a button much less mend a loose hem. They would give or throw their stuff away. I couldn't understand that.
I think sewing is the best skill I will pass down to my kids 🥰
💚🖤💚
@@marjoleinsmolders1630 sewing is a great skill but reading beats everything.
And here I thought it was washing in cold, air drying, mending, and buying thrift/recycled that made me CHEAP - turns out I am a HERO! 🤔 Well, maybe a little.
Thank you for this. I ❤ to hear your views and I appreciate it as a topic.
I'm frugal according to my fiance, but I think I'm just actually cheap too...
I love being cheap! The sustainability benefits are a bonus, but I mostly just don't want to waste my money.
Right? I'm just.. low income. So not having a dryer and making do with what I have is the default, haha. I do find the shopping for the inevitable time you do need new clothes really difficult though, fast fashion being the only thing that fits in my budget and thrift stores not carrying my size. It's a conundrum, and as stated in the video; doing it perfectly is *impossible*
@@Rhaifha Yes. It's like archery. You still get points for being close to the center of the target!
@@deniseeldred4901 I am with you - I would rather be "cheap" than wasteful any day!
Technically speaking, home apparel sewers, in terms of fashion and the environment are the solution not the problem.
Firstly, it was very generous of you to suggest that fast fashion like Zara still run on 4 seasons rather than somewhere between 8 and 12, adding into that the undervalue of sewists who make the clothing for that fast moving industry.
Sewing your own clothing gives a greater appreciation as to what is involved and takes time. I am really fast as a sewer and I could not do 8 seasons a year, nor am I likely to overlook that coat I made last winter and make another one cause damn that took work and I’m proud of it.
I doubt I could keep up with 4 seasons a year! Especially since I want to make a few nice wool sweaters, those take time! And absolutely, I'm not going to replace the things I made last year in favor of new ones, I'm going to keep wearing them so I can keep saying "thanks, I made it!" when someone compliments it.
I agree, home sewing forces you to not only reduce the amount of clothing you acquire, it also makes you more likely to produce clothes that last for years, because if you are going to go through that amount of effort then you are going to also want something that won't fall apart after three washes.
Back when I wore 100% fast fashion (best I could afford) I still wore the heck out of my clothes. I still have a few pieces that have years of frequent wear on them. If you get 5 years of wear out of a cotton tee from H&M I can't call that a bad decision. A polyester super fashionable top that gets all pilled in 2 months and is out of style the following summer? Not that great... But making your own? Either you will value it for decades, or someone you give it to will do it for you. (I've made stuff I never ended up wearing, I admit it...)
I know right 4 seasons 😂 I worked at Banana Republic once, I know they do a looooot of "seasonal refreshes" in between main lines coming in... yikes!!
I'm lucky to live in a p!ace where the seasons are Almost Winter, Winter, Still Winter and Construction. The long 19 hour days during summer and being in a Northern desert, temps are 95-120, with an average of 105. We will have snow at the beginning of May and in a week to ten days, its 95 until mid September. So I only get to sew for two seasons. I've sewn for four seasons but found it a bit much consumption wise. Sewing along fast fashion lines would drive me crazy with all the wasteful news.
I am SO INTERESTED in the intersections of how misogyny devalues 'women's work' and how the sustainability movement pits individual actions against each other as an attempt to obfuscate who the true perpetrators of climate change are. And I am so glad that you mentioned this. And I would listen to you talk about it forever if you were interested. Thank you for such a great video.
I second this sentiment and think it would make for a great video topic (hint, hint! 😉)
This is not an angle I had thought of before but it's so true. I feel like they blame it on everyone but the perpetrators. When the plastic straw thing kicked off, a couple people in my disability community who need straws to drink full time or part time had to keep being like "no, I can't use a reusable straw, if I can't drink from a cup properly what makes you think I can keep something that needs fine motor skills to clean, clean enough so it won't give me a life threatening infection. No I can't use pasta straws, I can't control my mouth I would bite into it. No, paper straws will disintegrate by the time I'm half way through my drink because I do things slowly and they're also not that much better ecologically. Please just let me use a plastic straw without putting the guilt of dead sea turtles on my shoulders when it's the fucking industrial fishing nets that are the actual issue".
Yes, I'm so tired of the nitpicking the average consumer gets subject to (plastic straws, methane contribution of pets, etc.) in comparison to corporations and capitalistic supply chains contributing to climate change. Not that individuals shouldn't address their own impact, but there's only so much you can change without moving to a farm and raising sheep.
Agreed! Although I'd argue that this sort of blame-shifting & bandwagon-jumping doesn't actually constitute "the sustainability movement"...? To me, that's things like community garden initiatives, our national soft plastics recycling scheme and plastic bag ban in supermarkets, Geenpeace's campaign to stop Coke producing tons of single use plastics, and a ton of other great grassroots initiatives?
Things like the short-lived kerfuffle over plastics straws strike me more like social media trends than as any actual part of the ongoing movement towards more sustainable existence...They often seem to be created by industry special interest groups who're trying to hijack the eco messaging, or by people who're enthusiastic but maybe not super well informed...? 🤔
Keeps my hands busy while my brain is full of bees. That is "*chefs kiss** perfect. You're a wonderful person, Bianca. Thank you for this.
Right? Genius
Merch op
This line made me feel VERY SEEN 🤣🤣🤣
I heard Rosianna say it and it really stuck with me 😅 She is excellent and very wise! ruclips.net/user/missxrojas
@@TheClosetHistorian and now I'm subscribed! Thanks!!
It is so difficult in our time to live a life that does not feel like i am destroying the planet by simply being. I do agree that simply by making our clothes ourselves we are already making a little difference. I too wish to leave this burning world with as much glamour as one can achieve when home sewing.
I have a massive fabric stash I built up between 1983 and 1999. I stopped sewing because I moved and had no space, but now that I'm in a house and have space I've been stash diving and I still love everything I bought long ago. I have no intention of acquiring more. Once I retire in a couple of years I'll be working through my stash. So, while I contributed to problems decades ago, I won't be going forward, and that will be good enough for me.
I'm with you on home sewers not being a problem. I'll never be pure enough either, and I'm fine with that.
The quilters get to feel extra virtuous right now since there was a mask shortage in spring 2020 and they were able to dip into their high quality cotton stashes and quickly whip up masks for whoever wanted them. Sewing is a life skill, in non-pandemic times as well.
As another commenter pointed out, the fabric we already have is the greenest option
I often try to focus on the fact that the fabric with the least impact is the one I already own.
It's a good philosophy I also try to focus on!
Stash busting, the best option for your wallet and the planet. Its a bit like how its actually more eco friendly to keep using your current gas powered car (in the majority of cases) then giving it up to get an electric since it takes so much to make a new car, electric or not.
"I want to look damn glamorous for this upcoming apocalypse". I love your honesty. Your bluntness. Your common sense. Was already a fan. With this one quote I've been turned into a Stan ❤
I can only agree with you Cynthia! Keep those good vibes coming, Bianca!!
Thank you Cynthia! 🖤
"There is nothing but nuance and levels of complexity to this conversation" is what did it for me lol Im weak for people being clear that things as complicated and nuanced. I do feel though that the apocalypse quote is brilliant.
I don’t know if you intended to make me tear up when you started talking about giving up a dream to teach a few hundred people to sew a dress they’ll love...
but you succeeded
Sorry about that! ❤
Your message is so needed. This is the perspective that older generations lived - mend, wash less, make do. Our consumer mentality has gone rogue through a sense of entitlement; with so little concern for the human cost.
And Bianca, we are so grateful that you chose to pay the cost (those pending student loans) to teach skills that will effect a wider rippling pool of sustainability through home sewists.
Thank you Kaytie ❤
wow appreciate the different editing format and you searching out all those clips and articles etc
also the cyberpunkesque intro made me giggle
I was literally like "okay now where is the most Blade Runner opening shot clip of oil refinery hmm..."
Something that makes me feel good is buying vintage deadstock, like glass buttons, closures, and especially ribbons. Plus you can get nicer quality stuff. Anyway people focus far to much on individuals, probably because its easier to shame them.
And because companies have spent decades and billions on shifting blame and making society think of individuals and personal accountability so they dont have to change. If you haven't, looking into the shift from glass to plastic bottles and all the manipulation that went into changing public option is very eye opening.
Amazing video! It really highlights that most of the time, the issue isn’t creating or using the fabric it’s the fact that the mass production of anything by a corporation is FAR more destructive than making those products within a community by craftsman/artists, based on community demand.
It really feels like 95% of products exist because of induced demand, not because people need them. What a bizarre way to organize society.
Great video. It is because of you and others CosTubers that I started paying attention to the material my clothes are made out of. You have a greater impact on the environment than you realize through educating others.
Thank you Jeanette!
as long as you're not sewing an NFT or a cryptocurrency, you're probably doing minimal harm. also, the way you actively rehome clothes that you no longer wear is excellent.
No ram upgrades needed, and my graphics card struggles with the Sims 4 so I've got no chance 🤣
"Actively rehoming" is a thing I would love to see develop into a movement. It probably would do more good than all the reusable straw outrage. I get really peaked every time I see big clear out, downsizing video where people are so proud of getting rid of the stuff but don't really consider what will happen to it after.
In my experience the easiest way to rehome items in most cases rather than donating and assuming it wont just be thrown out, is to call up your local friends or make a social media post about having clothes, a lamp, a couch, or whatever you need to rehome. And if your to handle such things without bad anxiety, ask neighbors. Ive gotten rid or food that would have gone bad and things I didnt need just knocking on my neighbors door to offer and on the other side taken things and made good use out of them. And if you dont mind strangers at your house there are tons of groups online where you can pst to let people know you are giving something away or selling.
@@khaxjc1 in the egl community, we have Lace Market (like a specialty eBay) and swap meets for local communities all the time; almost nobody builds an entire wardrobe without secondhand sales. there's also buy nothing groups for donating things to your neighbors in a moderated space.
Fun fact: wool is a carbon-negative fabric, and iirc, methane breaks down naturally before carbon. So wool is pretty ideal.
You mentioned wearing slips and washing less frequently. Is that something you've covered in another video, especially the slips?
Plus wool is nice 😅 I love a structured wool dress, or suit of course! I usually buy vintage slips on etsy or at thrift shops personally ❤
I'd love a video on making slips. If anyone sees this and can rec one Id be grateful cause I can never find ones in my size that fit comfortably and work under my clothes. I like slips, they are so useful, but having to adjust all the time and dealing with it showing under my clothes means I tend to skip.
This was more fantastic than I expected it to be! Thank you for all the nuance in the topic! ❤️
"while my brain is full of bees" 😂 I felt this in my soul
I got that one from Rosianna who is very wise ruclips.net/user/missxrojas
Biggest negative I take from this as far as delivery of message is you hating on yourself for liking avocados. Either that or you have a physically unhealthy level of avocado intake😹 In all seriousness it's good to see someone addressing this issue with a balance of tone. Most of the time when sustainability is discussed a level of censure is still present. You bring up the issues with second hand in a lot of non-metropolitan areas (thrift stores are sparse in any number of ways). Also, a lot of the higher quality quilting fabrics at JoAnn are as often purchased for garment making as it is for quilting.
This is a very important video, intelligent in its research and citing of sources, bold in its message, and relevant in drawing attention to entities causing the most damage to this earth. You are correct to encourage individuals to do what they can while simultaneously being truthful that individual changes won’t make much impact without the worst offenders changing how they do business. You were courteous to make this video, and your level of professionalism adds weight to your warning. Excellent and very impressive, my dear!!!!!!!
Thank you Nancy!
Anyone else think “Alas, poor Yorick” when you see the thumbnail? Loved this video, subject matter is difficult but you presented it so well Bianca.
I looked down, saw the skull and thought "wait a minute..." 💀 I knew him well 🤣
My response to this video while watching is a mix of slow respectful clapping and obnoxiously cheering you on. (Having one less child, or indeed no children, done, if my mom ever complains about me not giving her grandkids I will tell her I'm saving the planet!)
Like, to even put out this message, think of all the rare earth metals in the electronics on both your end and ours, the fossil fuels burned for electricity, etc. But would the world really be a better place if this stuff isn't said and heard? Kinda doubt it. We literally can't do anything that isn't problematic on so many different levels, it seems pretty counterproductive to shame people for trying to take slightly less problematic options if only because they're not 100% perfect. I'm sure if you really wanted to you could shame a dead body for all the gas it produces as it's rotting, the only way to have absolutely no negative impact on the enviroment is to never have existed in the first place and that's no longer an option.
But the real moral of the story is that in a perfect world we would all be childless nudist vegetarians, insert "this is the future liberals want" joke here
Yep, I'm on same page as you're on.
I do do the sheep to yarn thing...as well as the lanolin. He is farty and belchy. 😏 I wear my clothes for YEARS! They don’t wear out often and I have never been trendy or purchase seasonally. Unless, dressing ‘vintage’ and home sewn is trendy for a fifty something. I like to upcycle. I am a fiber addict I do all things textile...spinning, weaving, dying, knit, crochet, nahlbinding, knooking, Tunisian Crochet and of course sewing. I clothed myself, my family, and my friends. I grow my own rocket too. 🌈🌈🦋🦋 We must choose what we can live with and not judge. Human consumption of everything is outa control. Teach your kids and their friends to sew at least a button.
Oh I make about half my under garments and plan to make a higher percentage as I become confident in the fit I prefer. 🌈🌈🦋🦋
What's your sheep's name?
His name is Boona. We have four goats too...all rescues. 🙂
Great video. I was surprised that you’ve felt attacked or been put into question when it comes to sustainability. As a matter of fact, you’ve been a good influence on my spending habits, opting to make a greater effort to buy second hand versus new when possible.
Thank you Teresa! Not often , I just sometimes feel people can word things in a very "gotcha!" way, when like...dudes I know I'm not 100% perfect, you got me all right 😎
I completely enjoyed this video of yours (I love all you do here) and this spoke to my heart.- By the way - I may be late to the party but CONGRATULATIONS on breaking the 50,000 subscriber mark 💚
Thank you!! 💚
Like most big box stores, joanns dumps unsold fabric in the trash, which is how I justify buying from the clearance section at joanns. I basically have no other options anyway.
I worked in an indie fabric store; people would come in and ask if we had things like hemp knits and then we would show them the price per yard (which was somewhere around $26 per yard at the time) they would get in our faces about the cost and walk away in a huff.
Personally I understood that things like wool and silk were going to cost more than a quickie cotton, but I spent time looking at some of the processes involved to reach that point.
I’m glad that there are some places that give more options like this but I’m sorry people felt it was appropriate to get in you face about the price.
I know people are shocked at the price of fabric all the time if they don’t purchase regularly but that’s still no excuse.
Uh, that sounds cheap. People need to adjust their mindset regarding prices!
@@katelynpatterns9611 I have yet to purchase virgin fabric by the yard (I only bought remnants and I have yet to use that, but I digress). However, you should see how shocked some people are when they hear how much a custom item costs... And they demand the creator lowers the price because "it's cheaper at Walmart" or whatever other store... -you can have a look at CanYouSewThisForMe on Instagram, if you're curious. but only if you won't start boiling over with nerves...
@@sapphirecamui6447 I actually already follow Canyousewthisforme on Instagram 😊
Yep some people are oblivious as to how much things should cost and others are just plain delusional
That’s pretty cool that you’ve been able to find some good remnants, sometimes they are hard to come by where I live
@@katelynpatterns9611 Good remnants is being generous. They're like half a meter/yard (a yard and meter are about the same in length), or even less. And many pieces are dirty, with weird holes in them... But I did find a piece of tartan fabric, most likely wool or wool blend. i made new sleeves for a thin jacket I had from Zara (oops). The original sleeves were made of faux leather and started to peel. My new sleeves are awesome :D with the exception that I didn't pay enough attention and on one of them, the fabric is inside-out. But you have to look very closely to see, haha.
Thinking about the impact of things is truly devastating. We think about solar panels and electricity, and yet many of the components used are mined by children in horrendous conditions. Our technology is barely recycled, nor recyclable so I get where youre coming from. Also totally not judgemental rant vibes, just a good viewpoint to try and get people to understand the other side. Also, aurifil cotton thread is very sexy new thread (and actually a lot of old cottons is still decent to use for those curious. Sometimes just undoing a couple of wraps leaves you with useable thread. And hopefully hemp linen will regain some popularity, thatd be amazing. Both for fabric quality and use, and planetary reasons of course.
For older cotton thread, I do a tug test to see if it breaks easily. Not 100% reliable, but eh. Does hemp fabric smell strongly though? I feel like hemp twine is too strong smelling to want to use a fabric that smells that way.
I think hemp twine is treated with something. My dad had a huge roll of twine that I always remember as being there. I think it lasted longer than he did. It had an odor but it wasn't overwhelming. Perhaps there is a way to correct this. Like making bamboo that is hard into a fiber. Interesting to think about.
I'm a Textile Scientist!! The struggle is real. Thanks for this video 😊
The thing we also don't mention about plant based fibers is that while water is used to produce it, any plant fiber is a carbon sink.
I use old wool clothes for my making my own tailor hams, ironing pads, etc. i reuse clothes for quilting, remaking new clothes, and more sustainable household items. I go to garage sales, thrift stores for all kinds of fabrics, even fabrics from clothing, etc.
I’m about to start a degree program in apparel merchandising and product development. Thrifting and upcycling clothing has been so important to me since I was roughly 15, and I’m currently on a mission to design garments and sewing patterns with details catered specifically toward smaller cuts and shapes of fabric. I don’t know how I’m going to do it yet but I hope that in the degree program I can formulate a vision that can at least make a small impact and spread awareness about the goodness of homemade clothing. Love this video, very timely for me!
Thanks Sarah! Best of luck for sure on your goals, being conscious of these things as a fashion lover only forces one to be even more creative really ❤
I loved your point about nobody given sculptors shit for using marble ( a limited, non-renewable resource) but EVERY sewing video has someone in the comments sniping about fabric use in a bad faith way. I think you hit the nail on the head when you said that. These people don’t want to encourage sewists to consume more responsibly; they want women to consume less
I completely agree with you on that topic. Our mere existence is already harmful to the environment, so instead of shaming ourselves for everything we do, we should realistically look at where and how we can do better. I, for example, like to eat meat even though it would be better to be vegetarian. Because of that I try to be better in other aspects of my life, like not buying fast fashion, using natural fibres for my sewing if I can, drinking tab water instead of buying bottles, always having a fabric bag with me instead of buying a new plastic bag with every purchase, buying from small brands etc. etc. And even though you sew a lot, it is still more susainable than supporting big brands that produce a ton of clothing just for the bin.
Personally, I am a 1.8m/5''11 tall women with a lot of curves. It has always been hard for me to find clothes that fit in modern stores, so finding clothes that fit in thrift stores or in the true vintage field is near impossible, though it would be more sustainable. So I sew my own clothes and I am very thankful that through you I learned how to do that. Because now I am able to own clothes that I love and that fit well, so I can wear them for years to come, instead of buying poly clothes that almost fit and that I throw away after one season, because I hate them or they stretch out or disintegrate.
However, I also like that you integrated the fact that not everybody is in the position to be sustainable in their fashion choices because of their income or the availability of things, and that we should not shame them for it. We should all try to do better *where we can* and not try to be perfect in every aspect of life. Because we never will be.
I also eat meat. I will only buy whole chickens to get more that one meal. this means soup from the bones. I also use my own shopping bags. I also do many of the same things. I also use public transportation when I can. I feel it the small stuff can add up.
@@joellewatkins5528 Exactly! We should all do our part. Good job!
Shelbizleee has a similar viewpoint, you need to look at the overall footprint of something and your needs/intentions. For many plastic straws are a necessity (disability) but they may only wear thrifted clothes or handmade items. Life on this planet in a sea of consumerism is complicated and people need to focus on their own behaviors not police others.
I love this! I think big companies benefit from reframing the conversation about choosing more sustainable options to be about "individual purity", because it takes the responsibility off of them. When I refuse to buy fast fashion or plastic fabrics my goal is to put pressure on those companies to be more sustainable, not out of some sense that it makes me a better person than anyone else. The idea that one person's clothing is significant in the vast amounts of pollution in the world, just lets the fast fashion companies polluting on an industrial scale off the hook.
I wish I could triple-like this video! Home garment sewing has become increasingly important to me even though I am a super-slow learner with this and have created MANY, MANY UFOs. Your channel has been an immense help during the pandemic and I have thoroughly enjoyed your videos including the hour-plus drafting tutorials. I have learned soooo much (added bonus is your sense of humor)! Home garment construction was becoming a dying art and one that really is an invaluable skill. So, today I give you 5 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
Thank you Geri! ❤
First of all, brava! This is one of the best videos you’ve produced imo 👏 Secondly, to add onto your points, I agree that shopping ethically/sustainably at the individual consumer level isn’t enough to create meaningful change within the fashion industry. It is much more impactful to support initiatives that truly liberate garment workers. If we really want to create structural change, we must put pressure on corporations, organize unions and create legislation that will tangibly bring justice to exploited workers & the earth.
My friend has a PhD in textiles. This is what she said when I asked her what I should do to recycle my sewing scraps vs actual clothing :
The various collection charities (value village etc) and legally required to handle textile recycling. The charities with boxes (like Kidney Foundation) have been working on revising their messaging for all textiles not just clothes in good condition. Because they’re supposed to take clothes with holes and scraps to send to recycling. I get the impression that the sorters are doing the right things and sending them to recycling but 🤷🏻♀️. I put my scraps in a small clear bag (like a produce bag) and sometimes label as textile recycling before throwing in a clothing donation bin.
I also try to repurpose my scraps if I can, because current recycling downgrades the quality significantly (like carpet underlay). So I cut out pieces for cat toys and then stuff with chopped up smaller scraps and thread pieces (cut up in case the toy opens up) and then donate to the shelter or give to friends. But it’s hard to keep up on using all the scraps that way.
I use my scraps either for patches, reusable cotton rounds, or stuffing. I made a neck pillow and stuffed it with scraps and it is SO supportive, I was quite pleasantly surprised!
Ahh, I wish I had access to some of the "damaged" clothes that thrift stores reject. There are so many things you can do with a stained/torn clothing item in a high quality fabric such as linen, silk, cotton, wool, etc. Many items can be mended, or as a last resort, used to make new garments or home items.
@@easyholly I have seen in my local value village that they have sold bags of scraps like that I guess if you put it separately in bags like Natalie suggest it might be more likely resold. But that is only a guess! The local value village also sells bigger fabric cut-offs now which I am all for!
There are many online groups on fb and other sites for "free cycling" where you can post about things you want to get rid of and anyone willing to take it can reach out and let you know. This can be a good way of rehoming items. Even things you might not see value in like scaps or a broken lamp or such. It can also be a great resource for creative types to get materials or for those who repair things, like say broken lamps, to find what they need.
And, some schools will take scraps for the kids to craft with but it depends on the school so best to check.
I started my sewing adventure as a quilter and I still quilt. I am getting into I guess vintage sewing. I plan on using all natural fibers mostly linens, cotton, ramie, hemp if available. I live in South Florida I need stuff that breathes.
I do plan on using my scraps from sewing clothing to make quilts.
None of are perfect. As I sit here in a hand me down polyester top. You see to better my heath I lost 150 pounds, none of my old things fit. The polyester top does not fit now ether as I now closer to my goal. Looking for new clothing I found fall apart junk. I never sew clothing before this. I made toys and household items. So now I'm slowly making new things by using thrift items and new. I lucky that I live 2 blocks from a mom and pop fabric store that sells over runs. I do walk most times, and try to get natural fibers. But as you say I can only do so much.
My dad worked at a plant that made pantyhose and headliners for cars, for 30 years. He passed away at the age of 51, from lung cancer. I often wonder if the fibers were a contributing factor to his diagnosis.
Goodness that's so young! I'm sorry that you and your family had to go through that.
That is so very young and I am so sorry ❤
I'm sorry. I so lost my father at a young age, I wouldn't wish it on anyone
Such a good video! Thank you for the time and effort you put into it. I agree with the thrifting situation you have too. I would prefer to forego the poly fabrics for purchased yardage most any day. And I take into account that I live in a super depressed area and folks need those curtains, sheets, etc for their original uses. I don't want to take that resource away if I can help it. Again, super awesome video! Thanks again!
Another point about thrifting is that whilst taking larger items to re-fashion might be seen as "being thrifty" there are people out there that need plus sized clothes. From personal experience plus sized clothes that aren't 100% polyester are rare finds to start with. It's one of the main reasons that I have gone back to sewing my own clothes from scratch.
@@expatpiskie But in an area where I've got 3 -secular- thrift stores easily accessible by bus... It makes little sense to not buy items that someone else may need. If there was a way to ask if anyone had a more genuine need for the item that me, that'd be great. But there isn't.
I can rarely get store clerks to tell me what the expiration dates for the colour tags are, so I can't even check if the item is near being culled or just in. In the store that does sales on particular tag colours - even that doesn't help because now I'm taking a half price item away from someone who may need it who will come by in an hour - or they may not and it may be turned into rags or burnt, or buried.
@@expatpiskie That's part of why I sew, as well! I could go to the combed-over plus size sections at the thrift store and find some sad, overworn polyester thing that nobody else wanted just so that I have a garment, or I could buy some inexpensive linen and make something that I'll enjoy.
Thankfully, my local thrift has an off to the side outlet store where they take any of the textile goods that haven't sold, stick them in giant bins for you to go through, and then charge you by the pound for your selection. If somethings gotten there I can usually take it and not feel so guilty knowing it was in the store and never sold. The big issues with this bins is if something was donated that had a smell or was dirty it contaminates everything else AND with everyone routing through its not great for germs, people damaging, or people with dirty hands staining. After you desperately want to wash your hands but they dont have a public bathroom. Even pre pandemic hand sanitizer was a must.
One marvelous thing is that cloth napkins that weren't donated in sets seem to always end up there and they work great for embroidering, some smaller projects, patches, or making accents for clothes. Also lots of old stained or damaged embroidered table cloths and such end up in those bins which can be a problem as I always want to rescue it to study and keep and appreciate the effort that went into it.
I didn't know people were mad at thrifting???? Huh? I'm fortunate to live where the thrifting is bountiful and I make good use of it. I am a garment sewer and find all of the fabric (not home dec) and the majority of the notions I use at thrift, garage and estate sales. Mostly cause I don't have that much money and I enjoy the hunt. I completely agree with you the sort of changes we need in order not to die are in the realm of collective action. Having said that there are filters we can all use on our washing machines to limit micro- plastic pollution.
Really going for the Koyaanisqatsi vibes in this video (and I am here for it).
I am lucky enough to live near a place that resells donated fabric yardage (quite cheaply), so a reasonable amount of my fabric comes from there, but I am limited to what's available, and the apparel fabric options can be slim. I think we all have to work out how we're going to reduce our environmental impact, and we can't all become zero-waste net-zero homesteaders.
(I'm just here to say that I really really like you, and your perspective about small impact versus big change is 100% on point, and your eye shadow is gorgeous, and you deserve to find every enjoyment you possibly can in this silly thing called existence, and I really hope you know that you bring a world of good to this little space on the internet. I'm not perfect; no one can be. I'm just out here living my life and trying to leave something better for the next people behind me
Thank you Johanna ❤
Oh, why can't I like this 10000x over!
This this this. All of this!
If you are interested in some ethical slow fashion, I have been doing the Wool& 100 day dress challenge. They are transparent with their farm to you process.
(At least for me, that’s what it looks like, learning as I go.)
This is such a complex conversation, thank you for outlining some lesser-emphasized points. We all can only do our best, and continue to ask the question "What more can I do? How can I improve?"
On the topic of granny panties, that's one sustainable switch I've made recently. I used to buy cheap Amazon cotton underwear, now I buy from Knickey. They use organic cotton, continue to improve their carbon footprint, and make responsible choices for their supply chains. And the best part, they recycle old panties, bras, socks, and stockings into insulation and give you a free pair of panties!
I did NOT know THAT! WOW! Very cool!
Such a well-balanced video and very informative. I only recently found out just how harmful rayon is and I have so much of it. I really wish there was a wider selection of hemp and I've heard of bamboo being better too, however, there isn't enough data to back ethical harvesting and manufacturing practices. As you said, "demanding individual purity is a false goal", no matter what we do, we will leave a carbon footprint, the question is, how big?
Let thou without sin cast the first hate comment indeed.
Points on the thumbnail too.
As a New Englander, (if, dear reader, you are from the south, feel free to insert favored epithet for Northerners here. I don't mind) bring back hemp fiber! It's basically linen, and we can never have enough linen!
Ehm I don't get why people where mean about you. You gave the answer pretty early, my clothes will last. That's why I started sewing and I need to get back into it. (Yea thrifting is a lil hard not as easy as people in America think) btw I turn fabric to cabbage so tiny pieces for stuffing.
I'm 5,000% here for this. Focus off of the individual, eyes on the system!
Oh, I can relate so much to what you said about studying fashion design and being horrified by the industry. I was very disheartened for years until I decided to go my own route also making videos and clothes online. 😅
A couple of years ago when I went into sustainable living I had a lot of guilt around my choices including fabric choices, fabric waste etc. I decided to drop the guilt because it wasn't helping anyone.
I think it's empowering to make our own clothes as it takes us from a "passive consumer" to an active one. In my personal opinion, I think learning and refining a skill like garment making gives us more satisfaction than buying a new similar item. On top of that when you know how much work goes into a garment (even if it's from Primark) you value the garment more and therefore take care of it more even if it wasn't you who made it. I think wearing clothes for longer and/or make sure the garment has a life after you are done with it is way more important than finding 'the most sustainable fabric'. My new take on it is that as long as you focus on quality fabrics that are suitable for the garment you are making you are on the right track. There is no holy grail fabric out there! I do a mixture of second hand and new fabrics (often also from mood).
You are just brilliant on so many levels. I love your look, your designs, flair, but most importantly I love your ability to communicate and educate. Thank you for all you do.
Thank you 😭❤
I quilt and I love it... I try to be sustainable and also not waste... but I wonder sometimes if what I am doing is enough
I hate to say that my sewing has moved from apparel to quilting over my many years as a seamstress. I don’t know how to draft my own patterns and big 4 don’t do anything for my plus size. I use to sew for myself when I was younger and always for my girls. You make VERY VALID points and great piece you’ve written😊😊😊👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻
I drafted a single pattern for myself, from an instruction book. It was for a cloak 9something that should be very easy to draft) and let's just say that I stopped a few times and I've been insulting the instructions because I couldn't understand what they wanted me to do. But re-reading and re-reading, I finally understood.
The basic idea is that you start with 2 lines that meet at a straight angle. from there, you have to measure usually just horizontally or vertically certain points that you unite through (usually straight) lines. in the end, you'll end up with a pattern you can then use to make a garment. If you measured yourself correctly, the garment will fit you almost like a glove (if you cut the fabric correctly, and sewed correctly as well.)
I felt accomplished when I finally had 2 pattern pieces to use for a cloak. i just need enough fabric for it as I made it long, and I'm tall.
@@sapphirecamui6447 that sounds easy... maybe I’ll give it another try! Thanks for the encouragement 💕💕💕
Independent designers are now making a wider selection of sizes. Cashmerette start at size 14
@@patti8070 You go girl! I know you can do it! :D
Great video, great message...and great eyeshadow!
Thank you Kelly!
This is *chef's kiss* perfect. Everything about it. Seeking purity doesn't work. We are not the creators of this capitalist hellhole nor the maintainers of it, we have to live in it the best we can whilst it's absolutely going to shit though. I sometimes feel very guilty because my disabled life can be very wasteful, I use a lot of disposables for various purposes, I have -gasp- plastic straws, I eat fast food fairly often because I don't always have time with my assistants to get food prepped for me, I have several electronics and I do wear fast fashion because it's the fashion I can afford. Then I'm like, okay but I'm also unable to drive, I take the bus or a cab if it's too difficult a route with a wheelchair (or of there's a panny and I don't want to be trapped in a box of people's breath). The last time I was on a plane was about 6 years ago and it had been a while since I'd flown before then and it'll be a long time til I can do it again and there's some people who fly like every week. I'm pretty poor, I live in a small flat and I only have to heat one room at a time because I live on my own. I have very little societal power and I actually take up very little space on this earth. So I'm not going to totally adapt my lifestyle towards sustainability, stress myself out when I have enough to stress about already, when actually I'm such a nobody of a person the impact it would have is not worth the anxiety and energy and money.
What we really need is the very vintage accessory of a guillotine. Push it up to the top of that hill you spoke about.
Hey! I've heard the desire to bring back that vintage accessory a LOT here, lately. I hear it can really turn some heads.
@@michellecornum5856 lmaooooo
I don't know how many people do this, but I use quilting cotton to make my dresses.
I have a few circle skirts made of quilting cotton! It's inexpensive and fun colors, so of course I'm going to make something fun out of it.
@@bridgetthewench My dresses have circle skirts! Every one of them! I know what I like.
For those in the UK who want to find more shops selling "deadstock" exdesigner fabrics (some do ship world wide).
Simply Fabric Brixton
New Craft House
AmoThread
Minerva (they have a deadstock section)
I have used all of these sites and can confirm there services are great, their prices are fair (not always cheap), and their ranges are great. Often with ex-designer fabrics the quality is very good (probably the same factories as more mass market fabric but you can't have everything)
Remember deadstock is very limited so you will get something you can't get else where, but it also means in some cases once it's gone it's gone. Also look for remants and seconds on sites, buying these will stop fabrics being thrown away after months on a shelf.
Thank you for posting this video, it's important for every sewer new or old to be aware of their own impact on this planet. We need to come to terms with this and do our best within your own limits, push where you can and accept where you can't. I love your videos (and I too sew over my pins)
I live in the Midwest and very surprised that Joann Dosent have wool!! Iv written many many letters to the company and every time they ask me I wrote them. We all need to write them. We had Handcock that sadly closed a few years ago. Fleece is awful.
True story: when I was at Joann the people behind the “cutting table” told me to use fleece!!! When we wanted to make a cloak! Umm what?! Noo. Lol they were serious.
We need to keep writing ✍️ the companies and change our buying. ♻️ 🐑 💗
I miss Hancock so much!
I keep coming back to this video. It is actually really inspiring, especially as I mostly see traditionally women's industries being scapegoated for the state of the planet. The avarice of these corporations grinds my teeth.
I do buy secondhand bedsheets from op shops to use in sewing. Not because I’m angelic, but because they’re cheap, and I’m poor. Some of them are high enough quality to use as fashion fabric, and that’s lovely. Most are only good to use as mock-ups. But they are great for mock-ups for clothing that will be made of lightweight woven fabric. And I prefer to use those rather than a roll of muslin- again, mostly because it’s a much cheaper option, not so much because I’m a low waste, environmentally friendly saint.
I also buy new fabric, and most of it from Spotlight. (The Australian version of Joann’s). It’s not great- they pushed the vast majority of smaller fabric businesses out of business in the entire country, and then once they did, they raised their prices. I’m also sure they get the cheapest, least sustainable and least ethical fabric they possibly can. Because capitalism.
But- I need something at least semi affordable, and easy to get to. I’m disabled. I can’t get to that lovely organic, remnant, and vintage fabric store in the city, and even if I could, I can’t afford the $50 or $60 per metre for cotton or linen.
And while I know that the manufacturing of textiles is pretty awful, at least I’m cutting out half of the awfulness of fast fashion. I might be buying the textiles, but at least no underpaid sweatshop worker is taking that textile and making it into clothing for me. That’s about all I can do right now. Also- I don’t drive, I don’t fly, and my family eats far less meat and dairy than most families. We aren’t vegan, but we’re about halfway there. So I already have a far smaller footprint than the vast majority of western people.
Which is one of the reasons why I get so angry when people abuse me for occasionally using plastic straws. There are days when I’m stuck in bed, unable to move my arms or legs, and I need those straws. My carer has to hold cups next to my head, and angle the straw into my mouth for me. There is no reusable option that I can use, not yet.
I really appreciate you mentioning how the whole straw ban debate is basically a distraction from the real issues. There’s a reason that large fishing companies give money to ocean clean up charities who push plastic straw bans. Plastic straws make up 0.002% of plastic ocean waste. Discarded fishing equipment makes up 60% of plastic ocean waste. My straws aren’t the problem!
And companies push the blame onto consumers so we are too busy policing each other, and not them. It’s sneaky and manipulative, but it works. And if governments make feel good “environmental” legislation (like those reef safe sunscreens that won’t make a difference to reed health in the slightest), then we let them off the hook. Or people think that because they’re buying reef safe sunscreen, keep cups, and reusable straws, that they’ve done their part, and they don’t bother with the big, actually important stuff- like lobbying their government and protesting the big polluters.
This is something I get really frustrated about (obviously), so I’m glad you mentioned it. The biggest contributor to climate change isn’t home sewists, it’s not people using straws, it’s not people using the wrong sunscreen, or buying fast fashion.
It’s capitalism. But until people realise that another economic system is even a possibility, climate change is a train that cannot and will not be stopped. So maybe the people writing nasty comments to you, or who abuse a disabled person for using a piece of literally lifesaving equipment should instead work on promoting anti capitalism. That would certainly be a much better and more effective use of their time.
Tl/dr:
THERE IS NO ETHICAL CONSUMPTION UNDER CAPITALISM!!!
Sorry, I felt that was worth shouting.
The plastic straw bans have been so ridiculous. I'm also disabled, and on days when I'm stuck in bed from pain, I have to ingest liquids somehow, and plastic bendable straws are the best way to do that.
So many balls of wax to uh, melt. Great video! Thanks.
I don't think people were leaving hate comments. At least if I was asking about sustainability, I would be looking for any ideas others might have.
I agree! I am glad people asked! I just feel passionate about this issue. I am more worried people are going to leave comments on this video mad about my dislike of tablecloths is all 😅
@@TheClosetHistorian I was thinking about Rachel Maksy all through that section, she seems to really luck out with tablecloths that make decent clothes! There must be a better selection in the Boston thrift stores.
Thrifting can definitely be super location specific! Perhaps people on the East coast had nicer furnishings in the recent past than out here in the west 😅 I'm sure some lucky costumer has found real silk curtains second hand before and been able to make a gown on the cheap, would be such a score!
I'm glad this is a topic that is gaining traction. Over the last few years I've asked students to think about textiles in response to questions about resources. Typically they'll have an abstract sense of the impact various industries have. Fortunately, because fashion is a "fun topic" they engage with examining the consequences of having so much choice. Of course, textile production and consumption have *always* been ugly under scrutiny.
In your role as a seamstress "at least" you're maintaining the glamour of fashion in a genuine way. Something that is bespoke and classic has an intrinsic sincerity and value beyond it's materials.
Hopefully, more people will begin to (and be able to) buy textile products selectively - from more sustainable sources and less frequently.
I'd be interested in any follow-up you make on fashion ethics (inserts silkworms spilling from can emoji).
So many cans of silk worms 😅🐛
Such a great topic! On an unrelated note, your eye makeup look in this vid is beautiful!! Tutorial in the future?? 💙
Thank you Alex! The main shimmer here is a duochrome from JDGlow called anomaly and its is AMAZING and does most of the work for you 😅 www.jdglowcosmetics.com/collections/galaxy-eyeshadows/products/anomaly-galaxy
@@TheClosetHistorian Oooooh! ok thank you! 🙏
Absolutely! The world is too complex at this point for anyone to always make the Best Choice, whatever that means, we likely won't even know most of the time because there's too much unknown involved in any choice we make (a la The Good Place!).
When it comes to the goods we consume, the only way for there to be any significant change is for the industry to make the changes, because that's the only way to get to the scale needed to make a real difference. I like when people make videos to remind me of that because I still often feel guilty any time I buy something I don't absolutely need.
Yep
point people to how nestle is sucking up all the water in cali. The home consumer isnt making the difference they thing they are. The corps usage must change.
Thank you for mentioning this! I'm in cali and rarely come across anyone else aware of this fact!
Such a great video!
I am a new dress-maker I am trying to find sheets to practice and do some mockups but my thrift store sheets are not in good shape and silky polyester mostly ( that’s what I find everytime I go) so although I felt some guilt but I got a new muslin for practice. It's definitely more expensive and new so more waste but this is what’s feeling right to me for now.
On another note are you giving classes teaching sewing? I might missed that information although I watch almost all your videos. Can you please tell us more details, how we can find those classes if you are already teaching them. Thank you
I think she was referring to her sewing videos, since she usually teaches some skills during them.
@@bridgetthewench yes, these are so helpful but she always mention these as sewing diaries rather than a tutorial so I thought there might be other videos as “step by step” classes/ paid courses rather than just you tube videos.
No additional formal classes just yet or anything, and when I do, it will be here for free for sure ❤
Those ladies are quilting with bayonets! Quilting betweens are so tiny that before the advent of reading glasses, the old ladies used to make the teens thread the needles...
ETA: I’m a quilter. Our quilt guild has got a lot of donations from deceased members this year. Hoo boy! So. Much. Stuff. It filled one lady’s garage and spare bedroom. We sorted and decided which committee could use what. We donated to goodwill. We donated to an immigrant sewing program. We are doing garage sales now and hope to find homes for everything. It’s a massive task.
Thanks for doing this video 🖤 You make such a point of not using Amazon or any of its tentacle companies, even though it could be convenient or cheaper. Many of the sewers and crafters I see on RUclips say “I got it on Amazon” every other sentence :(
I volunteer at a thrift shop and I see a lot of up cycling. I’m meh on the subject. It takes a lot of talent to make it look like good. We end up getting the failed up cycles too...
Loved clothes last. When you put your love and sweat into what you make, you will care for it, launder it gently, repair it and encourage it to have life even after you no longer can wear it. Since I started sewing my own clothes, I take care of what I make. That mentality likely does not always translate to store bought clothing as it is readily and easily replacable. Love the video!
Thank you Regina! I agree ❤
Ha ha you're awesome. I agree with a ton of your points. It's cool that I'm not the only one thinking about this weird scale of not adding to the trash fire as much as I could be... The micro-plastic in our lint stresses me out, but like that's such an odd thing to solve for. Less synthetics is the goal, but I'm attached to fuzzy fleece. There are bags to wash in that collect the lint, but then what do you do with it? Throw it away - then what was the point? Make a sculpture of synthetic lint and seam ripped poly threads? Lol.
I'd like to do more 'voting with my money' by 1) not buying fast fashion or synthetic but moreover 2) investing in fashion companies that are more sustainable...but I surprisingly haven't really found any ETF funds like that. Why though!? There are like a couple sustainable wool brands that aren't publicly traded. There are sustainability funds that sound vaguely like they might not just have consumer recycling marketing schemes, but they have nothing to do with one of the top offenders; the fashion industry. If anyone knows of something like that let me know!
I don’t know of any but I think it would be hard for any sustainability focussed business to be publicly traded as they aren’t profitable or scalable in the same way. There are ethical and sustainability issues with doing anything at an ever increasing scale
There might be alternate way to invest in these types of businesses but not sure how easy this would be
Maybe something else that people could do instead if they are able to, is get involved in some way that puts ethical and sustainable clothing at the forefront of the minds of people who wouldn’t normally know anything about it. Like if you have a kid, be the PTA parent who suggests the weird (COVID safe/virtual) field trip to somewhere that makes clothing or spins wool in a more sustainable/ethical way
@@katelynpatterns9611 Sustainable field trips sound like a fun idea. I'd watch that as a how it's made style. I feel like there should be an existant business model for sustainable fashion. Especially as people become more aware of the issues. Other more environmentally friendly businessea get tax incentives. (I'm not totally aware of the details but Tesla might be making more money from that side of things?) And luxury brands might get away with it with a larger price tag. There should be a way to leverage it. I guess you're right though, maybe I need to look into angel investing for smaller companies... Thanks for the ideas!
I totally agree about collecting the damn lint 😬 It's like if the micoplastics go into the trash instead...then landfill...then it rains and...what was the point? Eek, hopefully it's a bit better? Who really knows
Do we choose home sewing because we want to make more ethical choices, or did home sewing teach us the value of thrift and ethical choices? Chickens and eggs. Doing something is better than doing nothing and no matter if we believe it isn't good enough, the fact we made the effort at all is what matters. Be the Carpathia to the world's Titanic as much as you can and rest easy that you tried.
Omg, I 1000% agree with you Bianca! It's about what you personally as an individual can do achievably yourself! Me personally, I'm not having kids, I don't have a car, I try to buy utilities from at least a portion of renewable sources & I grow as much of my own food as possible.
In terms of clothes & textiles, I can't sew as much as I'd like. So I buy clothes that are a higher cost & higher quality, only once in a while. I do not shop fast fashion at all.
You're definitely not the problem & are absolutely part of the solution!
Thank you Bronwyn ❤
I think what you are doing is huge for sustainability. Even making people aware of construction and types of fabrics etc. is a door opened to the possibility for change. F*** the negative comments and for where they came from. LOL Carry on being awesome.
Thank you Guinevere!
Just to say I'm back here again to rewatch because this video is so darn GOOD. x
Seeing this comment made my heart grow three sizes like the Grinch. Your work certainly inspires me to try and become a better advocate for change in the style space, but my maximalist villain origin story is perhaps too rooted in fashion 😅 Thank you!
Again, a realist, educational video. VERY well done!
Thank you Maellen!
...now I want to see the Bulbasaur sheet dress...
I've pretty much stopped buying fast fashion, I mostly only buy cheap cotton tshirts (for work, because we ruin them), socks, underwear (also both cotton) and polycotton sweatpants for my husband (also wrecked at work)... I darn my big fuzzy acrylic socks, I started darning my sweat socks too, the only polyester fabric I buy is for sweatshirts, the pattern I use wastes very little and they wear like iron (plus I live where it's cold half the year and don't like wool against my skin), and I have enough dresses and pretty things (some fast fashion, some expenisve castoffs, some secondhand, most at least a decade old) that I never wear because I never go anywhere, and so I'm now sewing used or stashed fabric into daily wear clothing items because I enjoy creating and it might as well be useful.
So much this! In an imperfect system, there are no perfect choices available to us.
I don't get people that jump on every perceived moral wrong an individual commits, however tiny. It's probably less overwhelming than addressing the real, systematic, big industry issue. They never offer solutions on either level.
Not that I don't like to do the little things that help a little. I just don't expect myself to fix humanity's shitty choices on an afternoon in my sewing room. Because that would be ridiculous and overwhelming. I try to vote for parties that work to rein in the big corporations, I think that has better chances for real change.
BTW, how many square inches of your cicada gown silk do you have left? I thought that was an excellent example of efficient cutting layout and scrap usage. Less fabric in the bin is always a step in the right direction.
I have a liiiiitle bit left and I want to try and make a vest or a hat or something 😅 and some very luxurious face masks! And I have been sending swatches to anyone who writes me letters to my PO box when I answer just for fun like a big piece of silk confetti lol 💚
Thank you for making this. I have really intense climate anxiety and sewing helps. Good to know my hobby isn't the biggest offender.
Epic video Bianca!! Eloquent and thoughtful address to an issue with many levels of complexity. As far as the capitalism in the fast fashion market, I let the power of my buying dollars speak for me by not shopping at malls and department stores as well. Thrift and estate sales for me!!!!
Thank you Heather!
Thank you, this has been a creative block for years for me. I never wanted to make something "just cuz", becouse i always saw using creative outleat as a waist of money, time, anything. It doesnt help that my family isnt and never was really creative inclined and they didnt support my childhood creativity. Anyways, thank you. This has been.. needed. ❤️❤️❤️
I am lucky enough to live near a second hand craft/fabric shop. It is my first stop if I need a zip, buttons, fabric, elastic, etc . Unfortunately you can't tell the fabric composition, but I'm getting better at "feeling" for polyester.
LOVED this video !
Hemp has so many uses; everything from rope to clothes, to paper, to bricks to build a home.
This has been an issue since the Greeks. As a historian, I know that the world has been overpopulated since about the time of Christ. Also it's the same 10 percent every generation who care. But that's not an excuse. If you're thinking about this, you're one of the 10 percent. I've never been able to buy off the rack because of my size. I've been sewing my own clothes for 50 years! (50--agh!) But I also repurpose garments and sew for my Etsy store. I'm lucky to have some stores here who recycle fabric and have a lot of vintage tablecloths, cotton and LINEN! that I can buy. But washing clothes is overrated. Driving is overrated. Steaks are overrated. I also have a front yard urban garden and compost everything. I even make concrete rocks out of used plastic. But you're right, it doesn't really matter what we do when 80 percent of people are just trying to stay alive in any way possible and the other 10 percent are trying to build the biggest castles they can. We just have to try to get by and not focus too much on the veil of tears.
Wonderful points! While I fully support lessening individual carbon footprints I am also always glad to see the real problems getting talked about. Doing what you can is great, but beating yourself up over doing something that has a carbon footprint is just going to keep you from doing anything at all. There is no ethical consumption under capitalism, etc.
(Also, having worked at a quilting fabric shop for a few years I can confirm that that hobby is a nightmare of consumption. Obviously not for everyone who does it, but that job was a lesson in consumerism. Not only are there I don't even know how many companies coming out with at least a dozen fabric collections a year - some of which are produced in other countries purely to avoid US environmental protections for the dying/printing processes - but there's also all the cotton, wool, or poly batting. And make no mistake: the people who are *really* into it have stashes that would make any other home sewist blush. We had customers who would buy at least a yard of every piece in every collection of their favorite designers just to have and more if they had a project planned already. Effing yikes.)
I can pretty much guarantee that (1) those casting stones are hypocrits and (2) they know they're hypocrits. You've given us good information to go forward with. Thank you!
Watching this while playing Style Savvy: Fashion Forward on my 3DS :p
I'm glad to see another maximalist take this on, really. The answer is somewhere along the lines of you do the best you can with what you have at the time, you know? I sew because I like to, I don't buy fast fashion, I thrift...it's less than .00000001% of a drop in the bucket, but.
It's such a shame that you have to waste your time, and your viewers' time, educating people that believe that their thoughts are the only right ones. It has always amazed me that people think they have the right to impose their opinions on others and commenting on RUclips seems a very popular way of doing so. My opinion? If you don't like it don't watch it and, please, please, stop asking stupid questions like "don't you feel rotten wasting a yard of cotton on a mock-up?" No, I don't, I want my garment to fit me properly, so I don't waste the silk I plan to use in the final item. Geez, people, grow up!!
Personally, I think that the most environmental situation is an individual creating their own clothing. They have the ability to make the garments look and fit as they desire. I remember buying 5-6 pairs of jeans desperately searching for that "just right" fit. Instead, I had a pair that had to be worn with long shirts (waist too small) and a pair that had to be worn with boots (legs too short) and so on. Today, when I choose to make a pair of pants I only need fabric enough for a single pair because.....they fit!
I love your intro! I laughed out loud at it. Thank you for educating! Omg polyester needs to decline 🏭. Yuck 🤢
It’s so great that thrift stores and vintage is so popular. Also buy from Poshmark, and thrift. Also making with sustainable fabrics.
Thanks Jody!
Geez, we like sewing. It’s not the hobby with the worst environmental impact.
I admit that I worry about the impact of it at times, and take steps to mitigate the impact, but I am not going to stop sewing. I did move over to making higher-quality garments from “speedy sewing,” which gives me more enjoyment & use & fewer things hanging in my closet.