It’s time men were part of the fast fashion conversation
One of the things I get asked most about from my time on BBC One’s fabulous The Great British Sewing Bee last year, is the denim dress I fashioned from recycled old jeans in Episode Six. In the interest of sustainability, fans of the show have reached out to me and shared that it inspired them to dig out their old clothes (often from their husband’s wardrobes), and have a go at recycling themselves.
But I have noticed a pattern – the vast majority are women. While we are all aware by now of the need to wean ourselves off our fast fashion addiction, the emphasis is often on making women’s wardrobes more sustainable.
Refashioning and upcycling are a wonderful by-product of being able to sew, but I worry that the cultural perceptions around sewing still put men off.
All too often, traditionally “feminine” creative aspirations that boys