Today we live in a throw-away society. Buy new and throw away the old is the mentality of many Americans. Why don't we just learn to fix what we have? What about upcycling or recycling? Think about how many items we throw away each year. What else could we do with them?
My blog focuses on resources for eco-friendly clothing, but that doesn't mean that I want to spread the message of consumerism. I understand that sometimes we cannot find something used, would like a new item, or need gifts for others. I want my readers to understand that my blog is about sustainability in the fashion industry, which also means reduce/reuse/recycle.
I fix or upcycle my families clothing whenever possible. I patch the knees on my kid's pants if they are in otherwise good condition. I mend holes in socks and wool thermals and fix rips in my husband's shirts. I take apart one garment and make another.
One problem that we face today is that many do not know how to sew, mend, or darn clothing. I am lucky enough that I do know how to sew, and can fix much of our clothing. I tend to lean towards a sustainable lifestyle, using less and enjoying the fruits of my labor. I love the thought of sitting by the fire on a chilly evening hand stitching clothing or knitting a new scarf. For those of you out there that long for a more sustainable lifestyle; take a sewing class, look at creative blogs on how to fix things, look to the older members of your family that may know how to teach you how to do things yourself. If you really aren't interested or don't have the time, enlist a seamstress or family member to have items fixed for you.
When I do have an item that is to worn or damaged to fix, I make cleaning rags, save the scraps and buttons for other projects, or give the good fabric parts to my daughter to sew with. (She is very imaginative!) We are thinking of making a prayer flag with our fabric scraps. See what you can do, and if you need inspiration, I recommend Google or Pinterest!
