August 2020
Hi Everyone,
Welcome to this month's newsletter - can't believe it's nearly August already.
We've just taken down the Zero Waste Fashion exhibition here in Clare, where it's been for the past two months. I was so fortunate to have this experience and it's been thoroughly enjoyable. The gallery had many visitors as everyone holidayed in their own state.
The exhibition can be viewed virtually here - there's a slide show of the exhibits and a video walk-around.
The Clair skirt, my newest zero waste pattern, has just a few days left of 25% off in my shop, so if you're thinking of purchasing this pattern now's the time.
I wore the samples when I was at the exhibition (my favourite was the red tartan) and felt fabulous!
If you've made things from Zero Waste Sewing, I'd love to see your creations! Tag @lizhaywood3754 and #zerowastesewingbook on Instagram.
Zero waste designers
Take a look at two young fashion designers doing all-zero waste collections. They and their generation are going to be the change-makers in fashion. (They look so young!!!)
German fashion designer Laura Marterer's collection has beautiful embroidery and details.
English fashion designer Carmen-Christine has a fresh, fun aesthetic.
Some things you might enjoy
Here's some more on using a projector to project PDF patterns.
Petit Pli uses engineering and innovation to make children's clothes that grow. Their short demonstration video is oddly soothing to watch! Hey, didn't Michael J Fox wear a jacket like this in Back to the Future 3?
Jennifer Ackerman-Haywood (no relation) of Craft Sanity interviews Beryl Bartkus, founder of Ability Weavers, a Michigan weaving studio created to employ people with developmental disabilities (podcast, 50mins). One of the most enjoyable and interesting podcasts I've listened to.
Take a look at Candace Kling's amazing ribbon work.
With masks now mandatory in Victorian hotspots, we may see the same trends as in the USA with sewing.
Lessons learnt from mask making (Youtube, 28:38min). A long video but full of really useful advice and clear explanations. It covers most of the mask designs, techniques and materials.
The lovely story of Dulcie Mason's dance dresses.
What could the fashion industry look like post-covid? A proposal for re-thinking how the industry could/should work.
Aussie wool growers, covid-19 and the future of fashion (audio, 3:26min).
More wool: using wool as packaging instead of polystyrene.
On the blog lately...
Introducing the Clair skirt, my new zero waste pattern.
Making origami ribbon trim, inspired by Ruth Singer.
As it happens: designing and making a zero waste top, with progress reports on the blog. Part 1 shows the initial idea and prototype, and Part 2 talks about creating multiple sizes that are still zero waste.
In new news, I now have a Youtube channel - it has precisely three videos at the moment. I thought it would be handy to have how-to videos in tutorial blog posts, via Youtube, and my 11 year old offered to help film and edit them. She was really good; I was impressed by her ideas. The first video was free but she's now charging $5 (flat rate) for editing services per video. I still think it's a good deal!
...and on the blog archives
A collection of visits to local fashion exhibitions:
The costumes from The Dressmaker movie, back in 2016.
My high school prom dress was in an exhibition of clothes for History Week.
An historic costume exhibition, where I met the maker (and the maker of the maker!)
Cheers and very best wishes,
Liz