HOME GROWN FASHION. This is your wake up call.

Remember when your grandma taught you how to knit when you were seven?, well its time to pick back up those needles, the environment is no joke, if you can make it yourself why shouldn't you.

The fashion industry is the number one defeater of the planet all due to over consumption and the over buying of new clothes to keep up with the trends; i say go off grid, do your own thing. When is the last time you tried to make your own clothes or fix that old pair of jeans that have a hole in the bum, make a patch work fix, not only are you saving the planet but your also being admired for your creative skill and now your bum is an individual.

Its so disappointing to realise that our generation, known for our activism and push for change are actually the biggest fast fashion consumers, these two facts shouldn't add u, but never the less they do. why is that? we could blame social media, trends, being cheap but the truth is that its too easy, its a game, we cant get enough of making ourselves feel good by an evening of retail therapy and one upping our peers with our new clubbing outfit each week. But for one am trying to make that personal change, for the last year i think i could count on one hand how many brand new items i have brought from a high street brand and that's not a brag, i try make a choice and a hard one too to fight that urge. i really look up to my mum in this light as she tries to never "buy from the man" and she does cares about the environment a lot, but she is referring to her dislike for the capitalist push our world is built on, because of this i follow and have very similar views and try to amplify what i believe is correct. But i have noticed this generational change and difference it is so much easier for my mum to repeat outfits, mend up her old clothes without any judgment apart from maybe some of her middle class middle minded friends. But as a nineteen year old, i sympathise with those who are trying to make that shift as their is judgment and to much of it too. i am grateful for my expression when it comes to this as being a gay, hairy legged, short haired women i am already too far from the beauty standard of society and capitalism to even care about what my patched up and old clothes look like to others. But something needs to change to normalise making our own crochet tops and sewing back together our things and being proud of our skills and care for the planet rather than chucking a couple of quid to PLT for a red slip dress you only get one use out off.

A possibility for me to place this passion within the industry is that I would like to work on my own small business where I sell my sustainable ways of fashion where I can upcycle old clothing or join a small business where this is there scheme for example THE SEAM, established by Layla is a small business that promotes many self employed makers in the area and is a direct website easy to negotiate to help people find makers to fix and alter and repair their garments.