Ecofashion

I’ve been interested in the idea of 'ecofashion' for a long time. This term encompasses many ways in which the environmental impact of the manufacturing of clothes can be minimised. My interest is primarily involving the part that includes thrift, particularly to do with re-designing existing clothes.

Ecofashion is a topic that I encounter often, probably because I'm looking for it. It was discussed at length in the book Fashion Reader, which you might remember my discussing. I stumbled across this website, Wardrobe Refashion, some time ago and it is really quite good. She encouraged people to take 'The Pledge':

I __________________ pledge that I shall abstain from the purchase of "new" manufactured items of clothing, for the period of 2 / 4 / 6 months. I pledge that i shall refashion, renovate, recycle preloved items for myself with my own hands in fabric, yarn or other medium for the term of my contract. I pledge that I will share the love and post a photo of my refashioned, renovated, recycled, crafted or created item of clothing on the Wardrobe Refashion blog, so that others may share the joy that thy thriftiness brings! Signed__________________.

The Rules were

• No buying new! (handmade is excepted; So this allows for Etsy purchases etc!!) All clothing must be Recycled, Renovated, Preloved or Thrifted, or Handmade only for the term. Employment related and special needs clothing (ie sports, school), shoes and undies are excepted from the rules, although you are encouraged to have a go at making these.
• In extreme circumstances, maybe a special event, or the worlds greatest and most amazing never to be repeated sale that you simply can not pass up, you may use the Get out of Refashionista Jail Free card. You are able to use this card once during the 2 month part of your contract; ie 1 for 2 months, 2 for 4 months etc. Of course you need to fess up on the blog and display the button!
• You must post on the blog at least once a week to let the community know what you've been up to. This will not only give you brag points, but inspire and encorouge others! Of course you need to display the button on your blog and have copied the pledge in at least one post, and provide a link to your pledge under the button.
• You need to be honest and admit when you've fallen off the Refashionista Wagon! Go directly to Refashionista Jail, do not pass GO and do not collect $200! Apply for parole once there.

Unfortunately, many of the posted projects there are about cutting down adult sized items into children’s clothing. Also, it looks as though she is about to change the whole thing around to try to make more money for all the work she's puts in administering the site. I totally understand that, but I'm not likely to subscribe. If you interested, best get over there soon, before it's all gone!

I always meant to ‘Take the Pledge’, but it’s rather superfluous in my case. It’s been over 2 years since I bought anything new with no hardship at all. Oops! I forgot: when in foreign parts in December, I needed pajama bottoms I’d forgot to pack and so, for modesty’s sake, bought a cheap pair of baggy knit leggings for €5 at a cheap tourist tat shop across from our hotel. Good job I wasn’t on the wagon after all. The leggings have served well since as long underwear under jeans.

I mentioned some time ago, a programme with Twiggy, which introduced me to TRAIDremade. I found any number of other links back then but haven’t managed to keep hold of them. Then, not long ago, Second Cherry wrote about eco-fashion (but darned if I can find that post) and the same week the local Metro paper published a similar article, so I started looking for some of these things to show you. You might enjoy some of these if this is a topic that interests you. Some of these sites call it 'upcycling' (is that different to re-cycling or just a spin?).

The frustrating thing is that books like AlterNations, SewSubversive, ThreadBanger and Sweater Chop Shop have designs that aren’t really suitable for serious grown ups, never mind a petite woman over 50. Etsy is full of similar dress styles, not that I've looked at even half of them, but so far I like the Blue Kimono designs about the best and I hope she does well with her shop. Of course, re-fashioning doesn't have to be about sewing. It can be about dyeing clothes as well.

Some of the most useful ideas for me, however, are probably from the 1940s when government leaflets were published here in the UK, showing how to remake and re-fashion dresses, turn cuffs and collars, make jackets from blankets, etc. I have seen these occasionally, but haven't collected them; I plan to start. I grew up hearing about how my Mom used to make her own suits from second hand men’s suits. It doesn’t sound like it would be that hard, except that she was tiny and the proportions of the features on a man’s jacket would be all wrong, so she’d have had to work around removing those.

My interest in all this isn’t just about saving money. In that area it would be more akin to assuaging guilt for all the clothing mistakes I’ve bought and hoarded. Wouldn’t it be lovely if I managed to come out with a really great wardrobe through re-fashioning all those rags into something magic? Magic is the right word.

I’m also interested in this because some of my most satisfying creative efforts have come from limiting my resources. I figure any idiot can go out and buy a bunch of stuff to do a craft. If creativity is defined as finding a new way to solve a problem, mine is most sparked when making part of that problem that I have to use available resources. This particular idiot still needs to improve her very limited sewing skills, but part of what drives me is this strange idea of creating something from almost nothing. If I manage to figure that out, I’ll certainly show it to you and then I can add ‘environmentally friendly’ to my labels.