I made my clothes... but who made my fabric? |

[@erinpaige79]

Awesome Ruthie! I’m definitely moved by the Fashion Revolution, what it’s bringing to light, and how it’s inspiring sewists to ask some big questions. It inspires me to make immediate changes to my making and spending habits, but sometimes I feel like talking about it (mostly via social media) is not my place or not important somehow. Watching this video has changed my mind! You have inspired me to participate in the conversation and use my voice for change! 🎉 THANK YOU! ❤️

[@rhondaziman562]

Big thank you for doing this vlog, it's heartwarming to see people are starting to get this message out. I feel passionately about it and try to buy organic fabric, or use my stash (lots of which was donated to me, yay). I'm happy to think us sewists are starting on the next step which is sourcing fabric ethically. We are already amazing for making our own clothes! Yay you for doing this xxxxxxxxx

[@VWbus1980]

I love that you and LizzieB are tackling this. It’s something I’ve thought about since I started sewing last year. I don’t typically buy clothes as I find buying slow fashion too expensive and I try to keep my consumption to a minimum (thinking about my impact on landfill as much as anything else). Elizabeth made this shared how she used her jersey scraps to make ‘crazy jams’ which looked great. I also quilt so am saving cotton scraps to make a scrappy quilt. Not sure how you’d go about reusing small pieces of cord or viscose etc. I did give a bag of scraps to my daughter’s nursery before Christmas, which they were grateful for, but I do think they’ll still end up in landfill eventually!

[@CraftWerk]

Thank you! Love the idea of 'crazy jams'! It's definitely harder to think of what to do with viscose and cord scraps so I'm going to have to do some research and experiment and hopefully I'll be able to share some ideas soon :)

[@ToftsNummulite]

I wish people didn't feel like they have to apologise for discussing these issues! Really interesting to hear your thoughts, especially about the idea of (not) creating demand. One way to get info about sourcing is to choose certified organic and/or certified Fairtrade fabrics - because transparency and traceability is key to both standards. An organic fabric company should be easily able to tell you where the cotton (or occasionally wool or linen) was grown, ginned, spun, woven, and dyed/printed - and to be certified, the regulating body will have sent an inspector to check out each farm/factory too. There's a lot of choice these days and organic fabrics aren#t always more expensive than conventional ones of similar quality.

[@sewgatormomm]

Great video on an important topic. I was already on a downsizing trend, but this really cements it as a social issue and not just a personal goal. I was told by my local Goodwill charity shop that they will take even stained or torn clothing, because they sell it to a textile recycler that makes those huge fabric strips that they use in car washes. It keeps it out of the landfill.

[@kelleyspoerl2138]

Wonderful, informative, and thoughtful video. I had seen Lizzie B's video, which had already got me thinking about this topic. I do see that sewing can become just another avenue for rampant consumerism, and I'm trying to be aware of that and be judicious in my purchase of patterns and fabric. It's tough when you are a newbie, because you do need to practice, sometimes making the same pattern multiple times to master it. Your video makes me think that maybe that's O.K. - if you wear the items, and wear them a lot, so they earn their keep in your wardrobe and keep you out of the mall or the fabric shops. This said, I have to admit - didn't know the anniversary today, and just bought something off the Uniqlo site, though it was something I know I could not make myself. So I feel guilty, but that's definitely not a bad thing if it makes you stop and think the next time you are tempted to hit the Paypal button. We probably can't achieve perfect purity in this complicated matter with the present state of our knowledge, as you admit, but anything that helps us adopt an ethic of restraint in our consumption is a good thing. Once again, thank you for another great video.

[@andreanneabel3464]

Fantastic video :) thanks for sharing, I fully agree with you, and it's fun that Caroline from Blackbird fabric is trying to find more info about the fabric. Great job on changing your fashion habits :) I did too in 2017.

[@sallydingle321]

Hi Ruthie, great video and covers well the issues of making the garment industry safe and sustainable. I would like to think that as sewers we are all trying to be as thoughtful about these issues as you and others that have covered this topic 👍. Hopefully the more it's talked about, more pressure will be put on the fabric and garment manufacturing industry. I'm not a fast sewer by any means, having only been making clothes for about a year, and I like to just take my time on a garment and enjoy the experience. I would love to know more about where the fabric I buy comes from and the processes used so it would be great if the sellers could put pressure on the wholesalers to inform them more on these issues wouldn't it 👍. Another great video Ruthie and keep campaigning in your fab channel 👍😘

[@rosemaryjanerichmond]

Great thought provoking video..... I spent a lot of time on my holiday exploring the vibrant sewing community online , loved it but i was taken aback by the output scale of some blogs from a year ago and its great to see a process of reflection now underway but also a shame to think some sewists may feel they have to slow down what they love doing. My thoughts are 1) A refocus of blogs on new skills and techniques ( be nice to see the actual patterns hilight their key learning points ( think Fiona the chainstitchers skill checklist) so sewists can plan their upskilling 2) A website for bloggers to sell their makes on to others , which would encourage a focus on quality of sew and fabric care and provenance) 3) A new challenge #myHeritageSew where semi couture "dress for life " projects are showcased. Im tall so sew some clothes but also buy mega bargains from short lived tall startup brands..who cant persuade tall lasses to buy heritage pieces so fold with mega clearance sales.

[@CulinaryGuide]

Thank you for making a video on this topic.

[@jandimarco3113]

Good subject Ruthie. I buy occasionally, and maybe three fabrics at a time, but from shops, not online where it’s a bit of a guessing game and could be potentially disappointing and wasteful. That way I don’t accumulate much of a stash either. Nor do I make clothes that I rarely wear, namely dresses (usually).. I don’t have a lot of sewing time anyway, but wish I did have! So much temptation though. It takes a lot of self discipline. If I have a fail, I take the garment to pieces and reuse, as a toile or sometimes I can cut something smaller for my granddaughters. Hope that doesn’t sound preachy! It’s a big subject, I wish we could know more about the provenance of our fabrics.

[@CraftWerk]

Not preachy at all, these are great things to share to give the rest of us ideas on how to reduce our waste- you're an inspiration, thank you! I am definitely following your example of only buying fabric to use, not to stash and I love the idea of cutting something smaller from a 'fail' for kids- I don't have any myself but I'm sure I can find some to cut up my unwanted projects and make something new for! Thanks so much for sharing :)

[@weesas]

thank you for this video ruthie! so many important points. when i first started sewing i assumed that regardless it was better than contributing to fast fashion, now i'm starting to question that assumption like you. i've organised my scraps and i'm starting to use them first now instead of immediately buying new fabric and i'm committed to getting rid of my stash (as much as i can) before mindlessly buying again. i even managed to squeeze a short kalle out of scraps this week yay! some resources i've used that you might be interested in are the book Folk Fashion by Amy Twigger Holroyd - this really got me questioning why i sew and how sustainable it is as well as lots of other things - hugely recommend it ! also at the moment im taking a free online course with london college of fashion about sustainability in the fashion industry (it is aimed at young designers but i've found it's relevant for sewists too) through the Future Learn platform. i'm 2 weeks in and finding it super valuable in rounding out my knowledge, lots of great information about sourcing etc in it so im hoping to learn a lot more! definitely worth checking out xxx

[@CraftWerk]

Thank you so much! And thank you for your suggestions, I will definitely check those out :) That's exactly my plan too- to use all my scraps and then I will only buy things that I have thought about for a while and am positive would be a useful, timeless garment to add to my wardrobe. Thanks again for your thoughts!

[@face-in-the-crowd]

Very interesting points, you can always make cami's with your left over fabrics as they tend to need less than a metre. Also you can swap unwanted clothes or fabrics with other sewers and remake something from their makes eg if you don't like florals but they do. x

[@marta_sanders]

Great video! I'm also very interested in this topic and I'm glad the sewing community is so conscious about it. I'll look the fashion revolution web to download the #.

[@happyshopper570]

To eliminate waste, I am pledging to do my best to make the garment perfect first time round (ie no toile) making them a size larger will be easier to fit, If i mess up. Worst case scenario, i can still use the good fabric to make a shorter version of the intended garment or work something around it. With fabrics leftovers, those that are way too small to make anything out of but still a good A5 size, (ish) I would use them to clean the house with - much better than using those all too popular throw away wipes. I love how everyone really do care!! thanks Ruthie! BTW you are right, when i took old clothes to the Salvation army last year, they said they got too much!!

[@CraftWerk]

Ooooh, great ideas- I love the idea of using scraps to clean, I never use throw away wipes but why not use what I have rather than buying cloths?! Brilliant idea, thank you!

[@Hide_and_silk]

Whereever possible, I use natural fibres to create my toile and then use the toile as a lining. Better to make a toile and get a perfectly fitting garment that you'll love to wear for years to come than not toile and have something that's never worn.

[@rachael2824]

Tissue pattern fitting is a great way to do this! Check out Melissa Watson's videos

[@Hide_and_silk]

Only for woven fabrics

[@Hide_and_silk]

The problem is not making toiles but those who make 10+ garments a month - that's 120 garments a year!! Or those that make a garment on a whim or because it's this season's look - mostly out of cheap (non eco friendly) fabric and rarely worn or discarded because it's 'so last season'.

[@ppuyle1]

Great topic! I’ve purchased some of the “ fast fabric” I call it. It’s cheaply made stuff ...and it’s sad that the quantity lasts for only a few weeks before it pills and looks awful. The big box stores in the US seem to only carry that junk. Finding quality fabric that will last is really hard.

[@robynjury4403]

This is great, I'm half way through watching The True cost after watching Lizzie B's vlog & I feel morally compelled to take at least some of my own small steps. Almost all of my clothes except for sox lingerie is me made but I'm thinking of trying to either repurpose things more and also try to access fabric via thrift shops more. I also want to ask the question about fabric origin when I buy new fabric. Thanks again for your thoughtful vlog.

[@freckledcrafts]

Such a good video and subject. I only recently made the pledge to make my own clothes but do need to address the fabric I use too. I recently heard human slavery is at an all time high, horrifying!

[@Hide_and_silk]

One of my pet hates is the 'consumerism' in sewing and fashion. The concept of skinny leg jeans this year and wide legs next year. This encourages the rapid turnover of clothing to maximise profit. As a sewing community we should be fighting back. Why spend hours making an item of clothing that will be 'out of vogue' by next season? It's a waste of time, effort, energy and feeds consumerism - and the consumption of fabrics like viscose / rayon which are horribly polluting both in their manufacture and their disposal. We need to sew items that are investment dressing: environmentally friendly fabrics, beautifully made, in classic styles that will last us for years.

[@mellie4174]

yup and why can't we all just wear whatever we like and it be ok? what is this idea that all clothign has to match the "trend"? why must we all look the same? philosphically, there is something much deeper going on here even than just an industry bent on increasing their billions in profits!

[@Hide_and_silk]

Exactly. Like the current 'cold shoulder' tops and 'hi-low' hems. You may as well date stamp them 'summer of 2018'!

[@kristieprice8842]

I am concerned with sustainability, human rights, and the environmental facets of fabric manufacturing. However, I don't know how or where to find manufacturing information for particular company brands. In addition, how do we learn more about the specific processing of fibers and their impact on the environment?

[@CraftWerk]

It's so hard to find this stuff out- at the moment the best thing to do is to make companies know that we want to know and that transparency is important to us. Hopefully we can start getting more answers and anything I do find out I will share on my vlog!

[@Penguinandpear]

HI Ruthie, great post, some interesting things to think about there. Its something thats been on my mind for a while, both as a consumer of fabric and someone who sells fabric. As a consumer it is hard because I only have limited funds so have to buy within my limits; there is a pressure I put on myself to get as much as I can for my money (I have ended up with some real dodgy fabrics, and some well worth the money). However, I am now trying to buy less but better quality, although we have to be careful not to mix up good quality with ethical as they dont automatically go together. As I seller of fabric I try to buy ethically from wholesalers but as mentioned in your video its not always easy - the information given out is very limited, although good ethical fabric will come with certification so it is possible.

[@CraftWerk]

Thank you! I'm also limited by money- it's not easy for me to just shell out £20+ per metre for one garment- it very quickly adds up! Like you, I'm trying to buy less but better quality- that's a big driving force for me figuring out my personal style, so that I can save my money for more ethical fabrics without worrying as much about whether it'll suit me. You're so right that we still have to pay close attention to whether it is ethical or not- as with RTW clothes, a higher price point doesn't necessarily mean more ethical. Really good to know it is possible to find fabrics with certification though, I will definitely be looking out for that! Thank you!!

[@Penguinandpear]

No problem. You may need to ask thge vendor whether the wholesaler has offered certification as I dont think many put those details on their websites

[@mellie4174]

Hi Ruthie, I definitly applaud your efforts here and this is somthing that I think about all the time. However, I have a bit a different take, and I say this not to criticize but to stimulate discusion. Definitly agree that waste needs to be reduced, we have a serious problem with that in the world! At the same time cutting back on your sewing in order to cut back on fabric consumption may not be the answer we thin it is. In my underdeveloped countries these factory jobs, however expoitive they are, reamin amny families only source of income. So without them they don't eat. If we all cut our consumption in half, there will be half as many jobs and thus half as many people will eat ( i oversimplify for the sake of making a short arguement). So it seems to me that if people want to sew lots of garments for no other reason that the pleasure of making something beautiful, that needs to be ok. What is NOT ok is allowing these jobs to be expoitive. Fast fashion and high street fashion are making billions in profts. They can afford to create appropriate and safe working conditions, pay appropriate wages, and altogether end exploitation in the industry which would be a HUGE economic boost to the developing countries involved and the lives of the individuals who make these fabrics and clothes. So yes definitly reduce waste, use every last scrap of fabric, reduce landfill use I am all for it! But is it possible that we may not achieve what we wish to by drastically cutting consumption; rather than transforming the industry into one that is fare, just and provides a living for families and individuals, while avoiding filling landfills, to one that is smaller, with the same practices and leaves people with no jobs. Anyway, just a thought I had and i hope we can all have a great discussion about this. Keep up the good work and hopefully we can all together mount enough pressure on these corporations to see the revolution succeed! # who made my fabric!?

[@CraftWerk]

Hi Mellie, thanks so much for your comment. Definitely food for thought and very important points to make that I forgot to mention or talk about so thank you!! I personally feel that the argument that our over consumption is creating jobs is a tricky one- as you point out, it's not a sustainable economic model either for the communities that currently rely on the jobs or for the world as a whole. You're totally right that the most important thing is to encourage more ethical standards and that would in itself create an economic boost as well as better living standards for many countries and communities. However, if less people are working in the factories but they have more money (and time!) to spend, then jobs will be created in other industries in the area- as the economy grows, so will the business opportunities. The way I see it is that reducing my consumption- particularly of unethically produced goods- ultimately means I am not encouraging the current, standard fast-fashion model, I'm not 'voting' for it as much. Also, by reducing my consumption of cheap fabric, I'm saving my money for more ethically produced goods and therefore 'voting' for that, even if it means consuming less... if that makes sense? If we decrease the market for fast fashion, and increase it for more sustainable, ethical options, then the companies will have to respond. And as you point out, it's not like they can't spend more on the production process and still keep prices down- they can, they're choosing not to in order to garner more profit. But ultimately, I agree with everything you're saying and putting pressure on the corporations is the main goal- to me, removing my support and money is a small but significant act of rebellion against the fast fashion model. I can do that only by consuming less because, at the moment, guaranteed ethical fabric is much more expensive. Thanks again, I so appreciate your thoughts which are all important points to make and don't worry- discussion is very much encouraged here!

[@FabricMagpie]

This has been such a brilliant video just like I've come to expect from you 😊 I've just recorded a video for next week that is on a similar topic as I've been contemplating very similar things recently. If it's ok with you, I'd love to link back to this video when I upload mine? I just think you expressed yourself really well and lots of food for thought. X

[@CraftWerk]

Fabric Magpie thank you so so much! And of course, you’re more than welcome link back to me- I would really appreciate that! Looking forward to your video and thank you so much for your lovely comments ❤️☺️