Sewing to save the planet

Concern about the environment and time on their hands during lockdowns have led many young people to make their own clothes.

Lea Baecker, a neurobiology PhD student, is one of those who has been drawn to taking up a needle and thread.

Lea Baecker: "My main motivation was not having to buy ready-to-wear clothes anymore because I didn't want to support fast fashion. And also just to fit it better to my body. Yeah, and from then on, I never looked back."

Lea shares her newfound passion with her followers on Instagram who love her home sewn outfits.

Rosie Scott is the co-founder of the New Craft Home Fabric shop. She can see how Instagram has impacted her own business.

Rosie Scott: "Yeah, I think Instagram definitely helped make sewing look more cool. Like you saw a huge range of people on Instagram sewing. And, yeah, it was just like, more visible."

All of the fabric in the shop comes from deadstock fabrics, directly sourced from designers, fabrics which otherwise may end up in landfill. This is another reason she believes that young people are attracted to sewing.

Rosie Scott: "The clients, well customers, have changed - they've become younger, definitely. More younger people are getting interested in sewing. And especially with the fabric, we find that, like, we get a lot of fashion students and young people who are really interested in learning how to make their own clothes and make them sustainably."

Founder and designer of sewing pattern brand Paper Theory, Tara Viggo designs patterns to help people start sewing and develop confidence in their new skill.

Tara Viggo: "It used to have quite a old-fashioned kind of point of view, but more people are realising how accessible it can be, actually. And it's, it's kind of fun, you know, and they're really getting into it."

It's not just the fabrics or patterns that these new sewists use that have an impact on the environment and people's attitude to fast fashion. The process of making your own clothes can also make you think twice.

Tara Viggo: "Letting people know how much involvement goes into making a garment is a really good way to make you aware. Once you know how to sew your own clothes, you can't fathom that a shirt should be £3 anymore."

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