There are textile waste warehouses all over the world 🌎….. I am working on ways to get creative and remake with the existing used materials ♻️ #pausethetextilewastemountain #usedclothing #recycle
It can be mind boggling trying to find a brand name to fit your business so how about we just make up our own words…. I wanted a brand name which reflected my 🇬🇧 & desi roots Have you ever just made up a new word? #ecoraa #newwords #language
I’ve been working on ways to upcycle our traditional Pakistani/indian/bangladeshi duppattas for years….we desi sisters have so many of them & this is such a simple throw on jackety & 1 size fits all…think I am going to make a digital pattern which can be downloaded for anyone to have a go at making themselves.♻️♻️ #desi #dupatta #onesizefitsall #pausethetextilewastemountain
I’ll sew anywhere 🧵✨
I visited @idea_vintage_clothing_and_more and the owner showed me this beautiful pure silk pre-loved dress that needed a little repair. So naturally… I sat right there in the shop and mended it.
It always makes me sad when people give up on garments that can still be saved so easily. Most pieces only need a needle, thread, and a bit of patience to have a whole new life again.
Repairing clothing is such a simple act of care — for our clothes, our wallets, and the planet ♻️
#upcycle
#vintage
#repair
#sewing
I really admire Alexandra, who moved from France to Syros and made the island her home before opening what’s now the island’s only vintage boutique.
Sourcing secondhand fashion on an island isn’t easy, yet @idea_vintage_clothing_and_ #has created something truly special. Every time I visit, the store is full of people discovering her carefully curated pieces — proof that vintage fashion can build community while making style more sustainable.
By giving garments a second life, her boutique helps reduce textile waste, keeps fashion affordable, and ensures beautiful pieces that may have been discarded continue to be worn and appreciated. In a world of fast fashion, spaces like this remind us that clothing can still have character, history, and purpose. ♻️✨
#vintage
#vintagestyle
#sustainablefashion
I am often asked about the origin story of sari bear….. here it is in detailed glory 💗
The Story of the Sari Bear 🧵
I went to Bangladesh to work in fast fashion.
It wasn’t easy. Sometimes, it was harsh. We worked long hours producing mass quantities of the same garments.
On my days off, I needed something gentle &meaningful. I started volunteering at a small school. teaching recycling art projects.
Above the school, I found a-small craft workshop. The craftspeople were the parents of the children. Together, we sourced used cotton saris from a nearby village. And gave them new life. Handmade. Upcycled. That’s how the Sari Bear was born.
Your hands learn faster than your brain expects, small repairs that seem intimidating take minutes, and “perfect” stitching matters way less than “functional” stitching. A slightly wonky seam still holds fabric together just fine.
Mending especially gets easier fast. Once you’ve fixed a few loose hems, small tears, or missing buttons, you stop overthinking it. You just thread the needle and get it done. And the more you do it, the neater it naturally becomes.
#sewing
#repair
#handmade
Vintage shopping forever!
May I never get tired of shopping for vintage finds wherever I go in the world 🌎.
Shopping vintage clothes isn’t just about looking different—it taps into a mix of style, sustainability, and storytelling that fast fashion can’t really match.
#vintagestyle
#vintageshop
#thrift
I’ve been meeting fabulous people @goodlifegreece including @sharon.zimbabwe & I’ve been sewing my way around a Greek island.
So many of us have fabric stored away that can be handmade & stitched into something wearable.
@sharon.zimbabwe looks fabulous in her handstitched trousers.
#handmade
#upcycle
#sewing
Serving Jackie O… Sustainable & upcycled 🖤♻️
I wanted to recreate that iconic Jackie Kennedy Onassis elegance by hand-stitching a two-piece co-ord in a dreamy 1960’s print…
And honestly, what better place to bring it to life than a Greek island? ✨🌊
Timeless style, slow fashion, and a little vintage magic.
#handmade
#sewing
#upcycling
Why people choose handmade clothing:
Uniqueness: You’re unlikely to see someone else wearing the same thing
Quality: Often made with better craftsmanship and durable materials
Sustainability: Less waste and slower production compared to fast fashion
Ethical production: Supports local artisans and fair labor practices
Personalization: Many makers offer custom sizing, fabrics, or designs
#handmade
#sewing
#thrift
They are everywhere… piles of unwanted textile waste.
Every household seems to have fabrics,clothing,curtains that are no longer wanted.
Even the charity shops in the Uk are not able to sell them & often have to offload onto the growing textile waste mountain.
What about the countries that don’t have charity shops?
Where is all that textile waste going?
We can’t just store them in our homes.
The solution is to:
Buy less
Repair more
Donate to organisations that have a need for your textiles.
Repurpose into something new.
Learn to sew.
#upcycle
#textiles
#thrift
