Two British Women Fighting Fast Fashion Waste
From Fashion Shopaholics To Refashion Designers Claire and Emily are fighting the fashion trend that dictates that if you wear something once, you can’t be seen in it again. The fast fashion industry is relentless in its strategic marketing message: if you’re not wearing ‘on-trend’ clothing, there’s something wrong with you. You’re ‘unstylish’. Many people don’t […]
Why UpCycled Clothing Matters and the #ChopDontShop Movement
As you know if you’ve been reading my blog for a while, I make upcycled garments and crafts out of discarded clothing. And I want to encourage you – to beg you – to start doing the same thing. I’m going to give you 3 BIG REASONS why it’s so important that we all start […]
Upcycled Clothing – What It Is and Why You Should Wear It
What is Upcycled Clothing? Upcycled clothing is simply clothing that’s been created from unwanted garments that would otherwise be headed for the landfill. When I make my upcycled creations I try to use clothing that’s old, outdated, torn, stained or otherwise flawed. Stuff that even the thrift stores can’t sell but that still has some […]
Easy Upcycled Dress Tutorial
There’s nothing more fun than being able to make and wear a new garment in one day. And with an easy upcycled sewing project like this one, you can totally do it, even if you’re a total sewing beginner. Sometimes, if you’re anything like me, you just want to make an easy upcycled dress in […]
How To Make a Pixie Coat Using Upcycled Clothing
How To Make a Pixie Coat From Upcycled Clothing Back when my twin daughters were turning 11 years old, I decided to make them each a pixie coat for their birthday. I made them from upcycled clothing that was too small for them. I think their coats turned out really, really cute. What do you […]
Can Upcycled Clothing Help Save the Planet?
This is a guest post by a fellow Asheville-based upcyled clothing refashionista. Her name is Julia McDowell of Perpetual Muse Designs, and here is her story. Saving the World, One Fabric Scrap at a Time. . . I work from home alongside my amazingly supportive husband and 3 yr old son. We live in our […]
Fashion Kills: The Seamy Underpinnings of the Fast Fashion Industry
Fashion Kills: The Seamy Underpinnings of the Fast Fashion Industry Back in the 1960’s the term “fast fashion” had not yet been coined. Back then it was considered cool, sensible, and smart to take good care of your clothing. If a blouse was wrinkled you (carefully) ironed it. If the stitching at the seams or […]
Halloween DIY Solaire Costume from Dark Souls
DIY Solaire Costume From Dark Souls This year I didn’t think our kids were even going to need Halloween costumes. Our son at 16 has been above such things for a few years now, and even our 13 year old twin girls seemed to be ‘meh’ on the subject. You can imagine my surprise when […]
Mandy’s List of Ethical Clothing Companies
Clothing Companies That Put People and The Planet Before Profit All of these ethical clothing companies focus on creating sustainable fashion, putting the planet and the people first, before profit. While this list of slow fashion brands is by no means comprehensive, it will at least give you a place to start if you’re considering […]
DIY Tutorial – How To Make Leggings from Old Tights
How To Make Free DIY Leggings from Old Tights There’s nothing more annoying than having to throw an old pair of tights into the landfill. Well wait – there is. It’s just as annoying to want some really cool and fabulishus women’s leggings and find out that they cost anywhere from $14 up to $55 […]