Create a New Wardrobe

Once upon a time women had no choice but to sew the family clothes. There was no such thing as a shopping centre full of clothing stores. Now the options are endless.

But, why still sew? Why bother? Well for the last 20 years the world of sewing has suffered a decline and for no other reason that we have been living in a world where there has been plenty. A world where the cost of production has decreased therefore making nice clothing cheaper and more accessible. Thus making it cheaper to buy than make our clothes.

This in turn has seen a skill among the young almost disappear. But, along comes global warming, and a financial crisis. Who wants to look like a clone? The clothing racks now display rows and rows of similar clothing items that give the potential wearer no identity. A new generation that cannot afford the designer labels but want to have clothes that express individuality.

Now we are seeing new classes within our communities for seeing, more young people going to them. New shops are opening selling fabric, sewing machines and more. Sewing is no longer for the older women. Men are also enjoying the revival of fashion sewing.

Community groups and small sewing classes are cropping up everywhere. These allow new sewers to learn fast and easily without pressure and pure pleasure. In these classes you make new friends and share ideas and skills. Don't think sewing is only for women. Men are joining these groups as well! Remember many of the worlds fashion designers are men.

Creating a new garment is not the only option for sewers - what about refurbishing an existing wardrobe of clothes. Creating a new identity or expanding your identity via your clothing is now a flexible option for the young and not so young.

Buying a sewing machine today is not a major investment as they are readily available at very good prices. Savvy shoppers are now buying quality machines on the second hand market from the sewers who are now upgrading to the new machines.

The re-discovery of sewing is amazing. Gradually haberdashery shops (sewing shops) have gradually disappeared. But now we are seeing new shops opening and existing ones expanding.

So is this about money? Or is this about fashion? The revival is a bit of both. The tables are turning and young people want to have designer clothes and realise that they cannot at the prices charged. So, they are now discovering the joy of creating their own garments for a fraction of the price.


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Katherine Quirke is a successful Australian based business entrepreneur with an IT background, has owned a number of businesses over the last 20 years. Not only does she run her own business but enjoys gardening and sewing. Recently she has become a distributor for the 1st professionally produced learn to sew DVD set for home sewers. Visit: http://www.learn2sewdvd.com