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A Year of Wearing DIY
Anna Sui is one of my very favorite mainstream designers, and I once read an interview with her (in Venus Magazine) where she mentioned that for an ENTIRE YEAR in high school she made all of her own clothes. I remember this every once in a while when I find myself looking wistfully from my closet to my sewing pile, and as the time comes to make those New Year's resolutions, her DIY-ness really got me thinking...could I possibly commit to rocking a DIY wardrobe for a whole year - making from scratch or remaking my existing clothing to make all new pieces? Could YOU?
If you answered YES then my hat is OFF to you - think about how improved your sewing and design skills would be after 365 days of wardrobe creation, and how aware you'd be of the effort that goes into the construction of every piece of clothing that you'd otherwise buy - not to mention how much money you'd save by not shopping frivolously! AND your appreciation for the handmade would more-than-likely result in greater regard for clothing that isn't mass-produced or disposable - an attitude that makes you a much more environmentally-friendly consumer.
If, on the other hand, the IDEA inspires you but the reality and time-commitment of a year-long sewing project just doesn't work for your lifestyle, there are still tons of ways to incorporate DIY and consumer-savvy into your calendar year (and keeping up with ThreadBanger is a great start!)...
...Make the resolution to get as much use as you can out of your pre-existing wardrobe - whether that means transforming your garments with needle and thread, or by finding totally new ways of wearing things (like a cardigan as a skirt, a la Susie Bubble).
...One of the most important things you can do is just be smarter about where and how you spend your money when you choose to purchase new things: extend your Buy Handmade Pledge beyond the holiday season and actively support your talented local designers or etsy shops year-round.
...When you DO buy pieces that are mass-produced, think about whether or not you could make it yourself (or thrift it), and how much more meaning it would have to you if you did.
...And finally, my favorite little way to craftily and creatively work your closet is probably the most attainable for EVERY(ANY)ONE - don't leave the house without at least one piece that you've somehow personalized. Whether you made your jacket from start to finish or merely embellished it with your favorite brooch or pin, you're one step closer to style self-sufficiency. And who can argue with that?!
So let's hear it - with one month left of 2007, what are your 2008 style and DIY resolutions going to be??
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