#insideout : Fashion Revolution Day, Who Made Your Clothes?

I had mixed feelings prepping and writing this post.  I had the pleasure and pride of pulling out a stack of home sewn outfits, many more than last year.  And then I had the reason lots of people are posting their handmade wardrobes online for Fashion Revolution day: the death of over a thousand people when the Rana Plaza building collapsed.  Garment workers; mostly women, were the main casualties.  Only one day before, cracks had been reported in the building walls but workers had gone back into the building to fulfil contract orders that were due.  Its an unbearable loss of life, even worse in the name of cheap high street clothing.

photo from Laura, Behind the Hedgerows

For Fashion Revolution Day: Handmade, the question is  "Who made my clothes?".   I make most of mine and continuously aim to make more.  Why?  Primarily its not for ethical reasons-  I just love dressmaking.  I've made clothing since I was in my teens and the older and fussier I get about styles, itchiness, fibres, sustainability, (it's a long list)  the more I want to make for myself. I am also aware that by making my own clothes it takes me out of the cycle of wandering round the shops, trying on outfits with that mix of disappointment and self-loathing that only a changing room mirror on a Saturday afternoon can bring; away from the buying of stuff, stuff that I do not need or even want- if you have to make it, you consider much more deeply what you really need.

I don't kid myself that it's a cheap option.  Making your own clothes forces you to consider the true cost.  The effort, the time, the thread and notions as well as the fabric.  The mistakes too, the oddities that get sent to charity shops/given to friends/refashioned. I go through lots of thinking before I make clothes.  If I've spent £40 on the fabric, I want to make something that works, that I will wear and will become part of my wardrobe.   

And at the end of the process, I truly love my clothes in a sentimental, hard-to-let-go kind of a way. They have their ups and downs, like the time when I cut out a whole circle skirt dress back with the grain going the wrong way (shh, it's in this photo, it was Liberty and I think I got away with it)- but I love them all the same.  My wardrobe is my dressmaking journey- there are zips that took over three attempts to insert as well as necklines that worked first time.  There are many items I made for particular occasions- meet ups, weddings, sew-alongs- they tell my dressmaking narrative.

I am a firm believer in the idea that one person can make a difference, even on massive global issues like this. Not everyone can sew their own clothes and few of us can afford to pass up the cheapness of high street clothing but we can all think about our consumption and aim to reduce it a little.  Clothing is perfect to reuse, refashion, recycle. We all need to take a little responsibility and take action, however small. Check out Fashion Revolution Day across social media with the hashtag #insideout

Fashion Revolution Day: Heads Up

I recently had an email from Laura of Behind the Hedgerow, Abby of Things for Boys and Celina of Petit a Petit and Family, asking me if I'd like to take part in a  blogger's version of a virtual flash mob on 24th April as part of Fashion Revolution Day.  Read more about it here on Laura's blog.

Fashion Revolution day is about asking the question, "Who made your clothes?".  Its about thinking about the supply chain which is a provocative subject in itself, and raising awareness about a sustainable future within the fashion and clothing industry.  A big task but encouraging debate and thought, even just your own individual ponderings has to be a good thing.  As crafters we are all aware of what goes into making an item- bags, quilts, etc and can apply that awareness to clothing.  We must all be able to recall that uncomfortable feeling when we walk into a shop like Primark, and many others and see T Shirts for just £3 and wonder how can they be that cheap without exploitation somewhere along the way?  Part of the reason I make my own clothes is to do with taking more responsibility for my own consumption of goods.  

I do not claim any great ethical stance here, I know that the supply chain in quilting cotton is complex too but I know that I made most of my clothes and I had to think carefully about making each item, weigh up the cost, time, materials involved.  I also still buy cheap stuff sometimes when my daughter needs stuff.  Its all complex but we can still think about it and consider what we are consuming and whether we really need it.

 Taking part is easy: all you need to do is wear an item of clothing- be it handmade or otherwise- #inside out (hashtag for sharing), take a photo and share via blog, twitter Facebook etc.   Handmade is especially welcome as one of the pleasures of sewing your own clothes is the attention you can give to the inside with a little floral binding or a contrast facing.  If you only make clothes for your children you could always photograph an item of their handmade clothes inside out on a hanger.    You can make your pledge here or just take part in some way on the day.  Find out more here.

And why 24th April?  Its one year since the collapse of the Rana Plaza textile complex in Dhaka, Bangladesh where over a thousand people died and many more were injured.  Enough said.