Zero Waste Sewing and Sustainable Sewing

Zero Waste Sewing and Sustainable Sewing is a growing trend with emphasises on using environmentally friendly, ethically sourced materials, tools and techniques for making clothes, home goods and accessories.

We can make a creative impression on fabrics out of fashion clothes and vintage clothing locked away in cupboards. The key principles is set around the use of natural and recycled materials; up-cycling and repurposing textiles. Youtube and online blogs teach us methods of reconstructing garments, adding cool new features and you can find repair techniques to fix absolutely every part of a garment, upholster a chair or even completely repurpose a pair of men’s trousers into a lovely ladies jacket (I’m not sure about this one). Sometimes, it can’t be helped and we might need, or want to buy new fabrics. Think about what you buy and its purpose. Will it be a keeper? Buying natural fabrics, cottons, linen, silks means you will have a strong, long lasting garment, easily be repurposed. Use natural dyes, you can find easy methods online to create your own, unique style.

A great tip to help you choose ethically when buying clothes, look online to see if the store you visit has any of the following assurances for their fabrics. GOTS (Global Organic and Textile Standard) OCS (Organic Content Standard) BCI (Better Cotton Initiative). These assure us to know that the companies are following good standards. Harvesting to manufacture, shipping and retail methods are following methods to minimise negative impact on the environment while ensuring workers are working safely and paid a fair wage. The fabrics are safe to use and you can happily choose these knowing the garments are been produced in an ethical and responsible manner.

If you have ever spotted the OEKOTex mark, this assures us that the garment or fabric is safe for human use. It does not address fair labour practices or sustainable methods in production.

Zero Waste Sewing uses a piece of fabric wholly in the construction of a garment, without the use of printed paper patterns. Drawing out pattern pieces for a garment, on a small sheet of paper and upscaling directly onto your fabric. It takes a bit of thinking, but that’s it. Start with a simple bag and work up toward making garments. Ann Ladbury and Betty Foster often drew patterns on a grid to upscale onto fabric without the need for making a paper template first,

Have a look at my YouTube videos for Zero Waste designs to help you get started.

Keep smiling, and happy sewing