Sustainable sewing seeks to reuse and conserve existing materials, use earth- and people-friendly fabrics, and develop self-reliance leading away from predominant consumer preferences for disposable items. In a world that chronically squanders resources, it has become important to recast sewing as a sustainable skill and a component of a new thrift.

Sewing as practiced by our mothers and grandmothers was traditionally about self-reliance, ingenuity, and a smart use of resources. Today, sewing can recapture these qualities as well as foster creative expression, reduce stress, and create social bonds. Sustainable sewing, such as refashioning new clothes from old ones, encourages fashion independence and – as with past generations – the pleasure of owning fine clothes and linens made at home.

Interest in personal sewing and clothing design has increased dramatically in the past few years. The Home Sewing Association estimates that the number of sewing enthusiasts in the U.S. has increased by 5 million since 2000, and annual sales of the leading brand of sewing machines has doubled since 1999.  

Sewing classes and sewing clubs are growing in popularity among a broad demographic, giving even beginners a chance to break the mold and become their own designers. With this resurgence in sewing come opportunities for promoting sustainability and healthier practices regarding reuse and waste reduction.

INGENUITY & THRIFT: Alice Fogel, of Lyric Couture in Acworth VT, models a wedding dress she made from 22 tailored cotton shirts bought for $1.50 a pound. The dress won Grand Prize in Ithaca's 2006 eco-fashion design contest. Alice designs one-of-a-kind fashions and as her website states, "her true love is re-fashioning unwanted old materials into unexpectedly desirable new clothes." Photo by Marty Luster.