Fashion Revolution Week motivated me to hit some sewing goals while I was staying at home for the pandemic restrictions.
“ABOUT FASHION REVOLUTION WEEK
Fashion Revolution week happens every year in the week coinciding with 24th April, the anniversary of the Rana Plaza disaster in Bangladesh…The building collapsed and killed 1,134 people and injured more than 2,500 others, making it the fourth largest industrial disaster in history. The victims were mostly young women. During Fashion Revolution Week, we remember the lives lost and demand that no one should die for fashion.”
“Since Fashion Revolution started, people from all over the world have used their voice and their power to tell brands that things must change…More brands are being open about where their clothes are made. More manufacturers are making their factories safer. More producers are being seen and heard. But the story is far from over. We are only just getting started. We can’t stop until every garment worker who makes the clothes we love is seen, heard, paid properly and working in safe conditions...Ask brands #whomademyclothes?”
MY INSTA DIARY
Here are 5 ways to give clothing a new lease on life, bring you joy, and help the Environment.
21 APRIL 2020 - Fashion Revolution Week Day 2 - Mend! Extend the life of your favourite fashion. This Sussan dress has beautiful draping fabric but prone to fraying as a contemporary viscose/lyocell/linen blend. The result after one wash was a seam undoing. Rather than exchange it just mend it with a needle and thread, then the dress doesn’t go to waste!
22 APRIL 2020 - Fashion Revolution Week Day 3 - Innovate! Take two tops and sew one top into an elastic waist skirt by cutting at the arm holes = 3 looks! Unwanted linen shell tops, heavily reduced in the Country Road outlet. Mix-and-match with plain combos, or looks like a dress when worn together. Noting also that the 100% French linen is a globally superior production and will last the distance. @countryroad also has good sustainability rating as a fashion brand by @goodonyou_app
23 APRIL 2020 - Fashion Revolution Week Day 4 - Reinvent! Unwanted mens trousers on a heavily discounted rack @targetaus and made of 100% linen; a natural fibre that improves wearability over time. I changed the dark masculine buttons and now it’s perfect for me! I have no problem using men’s clothes in my fashion. Can you tell from the pic it’s a mens cut? Perhaps a trained eye but most people wouldn’t look twice. @targetaus #whomademyclothes
24 April 2020 - Fashion Revolution Week Day 5 - Upcycle! Wish you had more reasons to look at gorgeous @sheridanaustralia bedding designs? Make eco bags like this sateen 100% navy and white cotton.
25 APRIL 2020 - Fashion Revolution Week Day 6 - Innovate! Created this skirt from a large men’s linen shirt! No sewing pattern, just lots of pinning and trying on, and inspiration from web images. Also, the hem was already done yay and I created the waistband from the long sleeves. It’s definitely a prototype and not a perfect line, but lots of fun to figure out. Like my previous posts, I’m using 100% linen sourced from heavily clearance clothes racks, that were essentially unwanted by the marketplace. Don’t be afraid to use men's clothes made of quality fabric in your fashion innovation.
26 APRIL 2020 - Fashion Revolution Week Day 7 – Innovate! The final day. I was turning a matching light blue mens linen shirt into a camisole for me. It wasn’t finished on time because I was sewing together sleeve cutting for the interfacing. To be continued!
To the brands in this article: Country Road, Target and Sussan - Who made my clothes?
image poster and quote: fashionrevolution.org